Wellspring young adult programs to benefit from the Taylor Bell Memorial Fundraiser

When Taylor Bell’s precious life was abruptly interrupted by cancer in 2013, mental and emotional support for the 19-year-old was sparse.

“We were in shock; wide eyed; we didn’t have a clue where to turn for support for her. Taylor was too old for kids’ cancer programs and really too young for Tom Baker,” said Taylor’s dad, Don Bell.

Sadly, as it turned out, there was very little time or energy for Taylor to take part in anything outside of the scans, treatment, and a stem cell transplant that resulted in graft failure. Yet amid the unspeakable reality of life slipping away, Taylor continued to show strength and compassion for others, welcoming friends to share in her treatments, and showering her parents, her brother Travis, and her dog Cooper, with indestructible love.

Taylor lost her life to Acute Myeloid Leukemia on December 23, 2013 – just eight months after diagnosis. The void left in the Bell family’s universe is too colossal for words.

And yet 11 years later, they do find the words. They find them and they speak her name every day, filling their hearts with her enduring love, and filling the void with meaningful goodness. In 2015, drawing on the unrelenting spirit and caring nature of their amazing daughter, Don, Jacqueline and Travis turned their tragic loss into a commitment to help support other young adults living with cancer. They founded the Taylor Bell Memorial Fundraiser.

“It breaks our hearts to know there are other young people out there who are isolated in their struggles with cancer. Doing all we can to help to support these young adults is our way of honouring Taylor,” said Jacqueline.

Proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to support young adult programs at Wellspring Alberta.

A glimpse of Taylor

In 2012, all was well in Taylor Bell’s universe. A magnificent singer and promising actor, the native Calgarian had already achieved notoriety and appeared in many local headlines with her expansive repertoire of talents. At 19, she moved to Toronto and was accepted to study at the prestigious Randolph College for the Performing Arts. She was on the rise – auditioning for parts in award winning musicals – her sights firmly fixed on New York City’s Broadway. Her parents, her brother Travis, and her friends were ardent fans; proud to know her; excited to be in her orbit. Taylor Bell was an unstoppable super nova, on course for stardom… until cancer entered her stratosphere.

[Read more about Taylor’s exceptional life and her cancer journey.]

This year’s event

The 8th annual Taylor Bell Memorial Fundraiser will be held on October 12, 2024 from 1-4pm at 4th Spot Kitchen and Bar (2620 4 St NW, Calgary). Tickets are $30/person. There will be food, music, and a silent auction, all punctuated with inspiring stories and heartfelt connections. Buy tickets, donate, or offer silent auction items.

Cancer and young adults

While cancer can be devasting for anyone at any age, it can be particularly difficult for young adults who are at that critical stage in life when they tend to be forging ahead with a feeling of being indestructible.

“At a time when many of their peers are becoming independent, going away to school, choosing career paths and maybe considering marriage and a family, young adults affected by cancer must come to terms with chemotherapy, radiation, prospects of infertility and potentially having to move back to live with their parents. This, as you can imagine, can be a very isolating experience during an already traumatic time,” said Jacquline Oulton-Bell.

Young adults with cancer are at higher risk of distress, depression and anxiety than their cancer-free peers. Connecting with others of the same age going through shared experiences is an effective way for young adults dealing with cancer to address their psychosocial needs.

Wellspring young adult programs

While Taylor and her mom managed to find their way to Wellspring for a flicker of support, at that time in 2013 Wellspring did not have a full complement of programs uniquely tailored to meet the needs of young adults facing cancer. This shortfall has since been extensively studied and addressed, and today Wellspring offers a number of programs exclusively for those facing cancer between the ages of 18-39, and thanks to supporters like the Bells, raising funds in Taylor’s memory, the Wellspring young adult community is thriving. All other Wellspring programs are also offered free of charge to adults of any of age, as well as caregivers.