18-Year-Old with TikTok Bucket List Passes Away from Cancer

A Canadian teenager, who traveled to complete his bucket list and shared his story with people around the world after being diagnosed with cancer, has passed away at the age of 18. On March 30, Harrison Gilks from Fredericton died peacefully surrounded by his family. His brother shared the news with over 300,000 followers on Harrison's TikTok account and thanked everyone for their support and encouragement which meant a lot to Harrison.

Days before he passed, Harrison shared his last update on the platform where he revealed that the cancer had spread and would remain in the hospital for the remainder of his time. Harrison's father Trevor Gilks spoke about their family's journey and the help they received from a whole community checking off items on Harrison's bucket list.

In November 2020, Harrison was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that affects soft tissue most commonly found in children. In June, he announced the start of his bucket list series and embarked on several adventures, including trips to Toronto, Montreal, New York, and Tampa. His father recounted how these adventures impacted Harrison, and he was grateful for the strangers who were part of it.

Despite his diagnosis, Harrison was an inspiration to many through his messages of hope and encouragement chronicled and shared in his TikTok videos. After his death, over 1,000 people paid tribute to him by participating in 'Sticks out for Harrison', posting photos of hockey sticks outside their homes in his memory. A funeral service will be held on Friday, and instead of flowers, donations may be made to a charity in his name.

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