A former City of Airdrie councillor and current Rocky View Schools Trustee, Fred Burley, shared a heartfelt social media post about the loss of his daughter last week.
Burley's 28-year-old daughter, Katie, passed away on Dec. 18 after a ten-month battle with CIC-rearranged sarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
In his post, Burley wrote that his daughter endured radiation, chemotherapy, and extensive medical procedures for 10 months. He said his family has been overwhelmed by the love and kindness shown by the community of Airdrie.
"She came through it all with dignity and courage, and with all that, she never stopped worrying about those around her," Burley wrote. "Katie’s pain is finally over, she took her last breath in the early hours of December 18th.
"She fought until the end before finally closing her eyes for the last time with (her husband) Brendon by her side."
Less than one per cent of sarcoma diagnosis, which equates to only 200 world wide, have received the diagnosis of CIC – Rearranged Sarcoma, and Katie is one of them, read a statement from her family earlier this year. She was diagnosed in January 2024, and her family announced the devastating news to the community in May.
The Burley's hosted a Team Hell ‘n’ Back fundraiser on May 25 at Airdrie’s 1861 Local Bar & Grill and raised over $10,500 in funds for sarcoma cancer research. At the fundraising event, Burley shaved his head in solidarity with Katie as she was losing her hair during treatment.
Over the year, he has thanked the community for rallying around him and his family. His wife, Sharon Burley, who was a teacher with Rocky View Schools is also well known in Airdrie for her time attending many Airdrie events and involvement with local organizations.
They spent time with their beloved family member throughout the year in Ontario as she continued her battle against CIC sarcoma.
"She will always be in our hearts, and our love for her will never fade," Burley wrote. "They say that you grieve for those you love and the grieving we feel will last forever. It’s okay to be sad, but the memories we have of Katie will continue to put a smile in our hearts."
Earlier this year, Burley shared he was hopeful for the future of research because of Airdrie's support. He noted that every dollar makes a difference towards a cure.
