A couple from Grunthal is taking to heart the importance of having a date night, which was encouraged by their seven-year-old daughter in her last week of life.

Kristin Stam is ready to share the story of her daughter Ava's life only two years after her passing. Ava passed away from a rare form of cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, which is a form of brain stem cancer that is incurable, inoperable and has a 0% survival rate.

Before taking Ava to the doctor, Stam says her daughter displayed symptoms like loss of balance, mood swings, sensitivity to the sun, and issues with hearing. But with school just ending, and with the summer heat, they thought it might be heat stroke. “That's kind of the hard thing about brain tumors is a lot of those symptoms can be pushed off for some other reason.”

Stam says she wants to share her story to raise awareness, even if she can help only one family suffering from the same diagnosis as their daughter. “It's hard to get statistics for Canada, but the American stats are 200 kids every year are diagnosed with D.I.P.G. So it's not a lot. But that's 200 parents every year that are hearing there's a 0% survival rate for their child, and that's horrible.”

If a cure for this cancer can be found, Stam says they will be able to beat all other cancers.

A Date Night fundraiser will be held in Grunthal at the Abundant Life Fellowship on February 12, 2017, where Stam will share her story, with hopes to raise money to find a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. “We've come a long way with pediatric cancer, the survival rate is 80% which is amazing, but what about the other 20%. What about those families that don't have that luxury,”

Stam says 100% of the funds raised at Date Night will go to the Sick Kids Foundation and their research lab, for D.I.P.G. research. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the church in Grunthal, or by contacting Stam at fundsforava@gmail.com.