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Richmond’s Libby Yu is the recipient of the BC Cancer Foundation’s 2023 Catalyst Award.
Photo courtesy Libby Yu
Pianist’s music helps cancer patients
By Samuel Cheng
Published 12:03 PST, Wed February 15, 2023
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Richmond’s Libby Yu, this year’s recipient of the BC Cancer Foundation’s Catalyst Award, continues to give back to the foundation through charitable fundraising concerts.
With the mission of reducing the burden of cancer in B.C., the BC Cancer Foundation provides a series of services including prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Yu understands firsthand what it’s like to go through an illness as deadly as cancer—her husband Cliff passed away in 2017 due to late-stage testicular cancer that eventually spread to his brain and lungs. Surgery, chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, and radiation treatments brought tolls not only to Cliff, but to his family as well. However, Yu stood strong amid all the difficulties, enduring the hardship alongside her husband.
“Cancer taught us precious life lessons. How to exercise a faith we professed but (that) was so hard to live out when hard-pressed. How to embrace life when life doesn’t really seem so joyful,” says Yu.
A musician like her husband, Yu chose to use music as an avenue to inspire and bring joy to the lives of others. Despite the fact that Cliff passed away more than five years ago, his memory lives on within the hearts of Yu and their three children.
“He loved to sing and strum on his guitar,” says Yu. “And now my children fill our home with music through song and various acoustic and electric guitars.”
Yu honours Cliff’s memory by carrying on the spirit of hope and optimism through her music. Having raised over $16,000 for testicular cancer research in 2018, she shares the importance of giving back and expressing gratitude.
“We all have different things to give—there’s wealth and time and talent. Music was a natural way for me to give back,” says Yu. “It’s my small way of encouraging the community to continue to give.”
Yu says she’ll continue to deliver the message of optimism through her music to those who have been affected by cancer.
“Cancer is an awful disease that has changed our lives forever, but it can’t take away our joy and hope moving forward,” she says.
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