For Alan Farrell, family came first. Even facing a cancer diagnosis in the fall of 1997, his wife Rosemary remembers Alan’s only concern was for her and their two sons, 3 year old Thomas and 5 month old Scott. He fought the disease with chemotherapy, radiation and a bone marrow transplant, but in December 2000 at age 35, Alan Farrell lost his battle.During his treatment, Alan spent a lot of time at The Ottawa Hospital’s General Campus. It was a challenge to entertain two kids in his room or inthe bare-bones dayroom. Before his death, Alan asked family and friends to use the money they would have spent on flowers for his funeral to create a special family room in the BMT Unit. That $5,000 started a 10-year legacy known simply as “Alan’s Place.” Since its opening, countless families have enjoyed this cozy space to watch movies, playgames or just enjoy quiet times together while their loved one is in hospital.Each year, Alan’s wife and sons, his sister Barbara, his brother David and his mother Jeanne join friends and family for the Ottawa Race Weekend and have raised $30,000 to maintain and improve Alan’s Place. “We feel we’ve done something to inspire others,” Rosemary says. “It’s a really positive way for us to honour Alan and give back to The Ottawa Hospital.”

Read more about the evolution of Alan’s Place on our website: www.ohfoundation.ca/about/stories/farrell_e.asp