Prince George residents are gathering at the CN Centre arena for a public celebration of life for Mavrik Turnbull, a three-year-old whose 21-month battle with Stage 4 neuroblastoma united the hockey community across British Columbia and beyond, according to his family. Diagnosed a month after his second birthday, the young superfan found solace in the sport during extensive treatments that included chemotherapy, surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy.
The Hockey Community’s Tribute to Mavrik Turnbull
“Hockey was everything to him,” said his dad, Derek Turnbull, noting that arenas provided a sense of safety for the toddler throughout his medical journey. When Mavrik was airlifted from Prince George to Vancouver for care, he packed his hockey sticks. Local teams like the Prince George Spruce Kings and the Western Hockey League’s Prince George Cougars regularly rallied around him.
As his condition declined and he moved to the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice in Vancouver, NHL players including Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks and Fraser Minten of the Boston Bruins visited him. Additional visits came from Zachary Benson of the Buffalo Sabres, Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, and Jennifer Gardiner of the Vancouver Goldeneyes, according to family accounts.
Did you know? Mavrik Turnbull spent over 500 nights at either the Ronald McDonald House or B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver while receiving complex pediatric cancer treatments far from his Prince George home.
Establishing the Mavrik Turnbull Foundation and Legacy Fund
To honor his memory following his passing on July 6, his family has launched the Mavrik Turnbull Foundation. According to Derek Turnbull, the organization’s long-term goal is bringing pediatric cancer treatments directly to Prince George, addressing a critical shortage of local care options. In the short term, the foundation will provide financial assistance and resources to families forced to travel to Vancouver for childhood cancer treatment.
The foundation will also sponsor one child annually who has faced medical challenges or cancer treatments, covering their hockey gear and registration fees. Additionally, the Prince George Community Foundation has established the Mavrik Turnbull Legacy Fund to support northern B.C. families navigating childhood cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mavrik Turnbull’s celebration of life being held?
The public celebration takes place at the 6,000-seat CN Centre arena in Prince George, followed by a public memorial skate.
What was Mavrik Turnbull’s diagnosis?
He was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer, a month after turning two years old.
How can families access support through his legacy?
The newly formed Mavrik Turnbull Foundation and the Prince George Community Foundation’s Mavrik Turnbull Legacy Fund provide financial aid and resources for northern B.C. families dealing with pediatric cancer.
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