HURON EAST – While the tragic passing of Heidi Schlumpf only one month ago is still very raw and emotional for all who knew and loved her, there is solace knowing that her greatest attribute will live on indefinitely as an endearing legacy of genuine, selfless caring for others.
Only months after Heidi was first diagnosed with Triple Negative Metastatic breast cancer (TNMBC) in April 2021, the Huron East mother of four launched two campaigns that defined that selfless and unwavering caring that she displayed every day. ‘Heidi’s Hope’ is an online fundraiser designed to raise money specifically for London Health Sciences Foundation’s ongoing TNMBC research. In only one year’s time, Heidi’s Hope eclipsed its initial goal of $100,000, currently sitting at $122,435 as of press time.
In honour and memory of Huron East mother of four Heidi Schlumpf, who passed away from Triple Negative Metastatic breast cancer on Aug. 10, two campaigns will continue on to serve as her legacy, both of which she created. ‘Heidi’s Hope’ is an online fundraising portal designed to raise money specifically for the London Health Sciences Foundation, while #putakinddeedinyourfeed encourages people to commit a random act of kindness and share it with others online every year on Sept. 8, Heidi’s birthday. (Contributed Photo)
“It’s extremely heart warming to see so much overwhelming support coming in,” said Heidi’s husband, Remo Schlumpf, in a recent interview with the Banner. “Not just from the money going to the fundraiser, but just the community as a whole with the help with the service and the visitations, with meals being brought out and friends of the kids, their families offering to take them to help out.
“For the most part, it’s still kind of a shock to everybody. Her diagnosis was terrible, and we always knew there wasn’t going to be five or 10 years left. But we certainly two months ago didn’t think that we’d be here today, and how rapidly it progressed.”
Heidi passed away on Aug. 10, less than one month from her 35th birthday on Sept. 8. That will be a date marked in both remembrance and celebration, as the second initiative she created, the social media-based ‘#putakinddeedinyourfeed,’ will be launched for its second annual running. Essentially, on Sept. 8 people are asked to commit a random act of kindness and share it with others online in an effort to spur others to do the same.
Those posting to Instagram are asked to tag @putakinddeedinyourfeed so they can be preserved for the Schlumpf family.
“To see somebody having to put on a good face, be strong and having to not be sad and emotional about the situation she was in all the time – to see that person read these stories and share them with me and the family and get excited about the posts and see that people are out there doing different things for each other – brought her an amazing amount of joy,” said Remo. “It was uplifting. Just to kind of have that ray of light… when she was in chemo or recovering from chemo, was so nice to see.”
Remo admitted that when his wife first proposed the idea of #putakinddeedinyourfeed, he was sceptical. He wasn’t sure if it would gain traction without people wanting to garner some sort of personal or profitable gain.
“I couldn’t have been more wrong,” he said. “It’s a good feeling just to do a simple, small kind gesture for somebody. I was really surprised about that. It really kind of restores your vision of humanity. Especially after COVID when people were mostly keeping to themselves. Things have changed a lot in our social skills and our social interactions with everybody.
“It really amazed me and her as well, just to see human being kind humans. That sometimes is more of a gift than materialistic things. Every good deed sparks another. She loved it, and she really got a lot of joy out of that and was very proud of herself for coming up with something that’s going to have a long-lasting effect on her family and other people.”
Heidi’s Hope is an open-ended fundraising campaign for the London Health Sciences Foundation, while the #putakinddeedinyourfeed is to continue on indefinitely as an annual online campaign in Heidi’s memory, every year on Sept. 8.
“This was her birthday wish,” said Heidi’s brother, Tyler Van Dyke. “On the one day you can ask for something you want unapologetically, she did just that, and asked for everyone else to be nice to each other. It’s easy to get behind this because it’s universally understood, accepted, and supported. Naturally, it will continue because people want it to happen.”
Remo said that Heidi hung a sign in their Ethel-area home that simply reads ‘Be a Kind Human.’ For her husband, children, family, friends and all who knew her, it will no doubt be a defining phrase for how she will be remembered.
“She demonstrated that with a lot for things she did for other people,” he said. “She really did live her life like that. That’s a true memorial to who she was.”
To donate to Heidi’s Hope Fundraiser, visit https://lhsf.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.personalCampaign&participantID=2675.
