Friday, September 24, 2010

University of Victoria to honor CF patient Eva Markvoort

See my previous post and inspiring video about this courageous girl's battle with cystic fibrosis Beautiful Girl Loses Fight.

Times Colonist

Eva Markvoort's life will be celebrated at a public event Sunday at the University of Victoria.

Markvoort was a UVic acting student who died of cystic fibrosis on March 27.

She struggled with the disease throughout her life. Markvoort went into rejection after receiving a double lung transplant in 2007. The 25-year-old New Westminster native received her bachelor's degree on her hospital bed shortly before her death.

Markvoort's inspirational blog about her battle with cystic fibrosis attracted an international following. CBC TV aired an award-winning documentary about Markvoort's life,

65_RedRoses: Every Breath Counts.

Everyone is welcome to attend Markvoort's Celebration of Life, which begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Phoenix Theatre with a screening of the documentary. After a reception, a ceremony will follow at 3:15 p.m.

As a permanent memorial to Markvoort, the theatre department will plant a red rose bush with a plaque in the garden at the entrance to the Phoenix building

During her time as a student at UVic, she performed in four mainstage productions: Listen to the Wind (2002), Taming of the Shrew (2003), Guys and Dolls (2004) and Tyrants (2006).

Her acting professor, Jan Wood, said: "For one who lived so close to death, Eva embraced life completely.

"She refused to be seen as a victim."

As part of Wood's class, Markvoort once wrote a 10-minute play based on her experiences with her disease and the hospital system. A video recording of this play will be shown as part of the memorial service.

Donations can be made in Markvoort's name to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at www.cfvancouver.ca.

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