For the Love of Meghan

For the Love of Meghan started as a group page on Facebook that was designed to support a young woman, Meghan Baker, who had been diagnosed with cancer for the second time in January, 2010. Though it started with only a few dedicated followers, the page rapidly blossomed, gaining the support of over 1300 members by April 2010 when its namesake, then Meghan Baker Warner, succumbed to her illness.
Meghan's passing, though, did not stop caring people from joining in the support for her family and for her husband of less than one month, Adam Warner. Adam has picked up where Meghan was unable to continue, and who is now on a global mission to perform meaningful acts of giving and charity “to provide a lasting and tangible record of Meghan's love for helping people”.
Today, For the Love of Meghan is much more than a simple Facebook page. It has become a global movement of support, hope, and inspiration. Its name is worn on support wristbands by individuals spanning the Earth; from North America to Australia. It is also a running team for The 2010 Toronto Shoppers Drug Mart Weekend to End Women's Cancers benefiting The Campbell Family Institute at The Princess Margaret hospital. The writing services company, JBC Online, is among several companies currently offering their services to the "For the Love of Meghan" cause for free and are encouraging others to contribute to this cause and other causes in the spirit of this movement. For the Love of Meghan is even on Google Maps, where people from around the world can offer their support to Warner’s efforts and suggest worthy causes to which he can contribute in Meghan’s memory.
In late May 2010, Adam Warner will head to Washington D.C. to bring For the Love of Meghan to the level of officially registered charity. This global phenomenon of hope, inspiration, and cancer awareness will then have officially registered status.
History - the woman behind the global movement
Meghan Baker Warner (July 15, 1981 - April 27, 2010) was a young and vibrant Canadian woman who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, while teaching English to children in South Korea. It was there that she had met her future husband, Adam Warner.
Though Meghan lived in Petrolia, Ontario, Canada, and Adam lived in Washington D.C., U.S.A., they managed to stay together despite their geographical differences; a sign of the couple’s ability to connect beyond international borders.
He supported her throughout her chemotherapy and moved to Michigan, USA, which was just across the border from where Meghan resided. Adam started the process of applying for a visa so that he would be able to live with her in Canada. Before this process could be completed, though, Meghan received her second diagnosis of cancer.
Not even a month into 2010, Megan was given a metastatic brain tumor (brain mets) diagnosis. In February of that same year, the diagnoses of cancer grew to include tumors in her liver, a lymph node, and in the bones of her left hip and shoulder.
Meghan carefully documented her treatment on a personal and medical level, using her blog, “The Bee’s Knees. This was linked to her Facebook page, For the Love of Meghan, which was already rapidly growing in popularity so that people could offer their support. It was on Meghan’s blog that she shared her new list of life goals with her supporters around the world. This list had been revised from a longer one that had been created the previous September and which was shared by Adam after her passing.
Meghan Baker and Adam Warner were married March 28, 2010, achieving one of the most important goals on her list.
Sadly, the radiation therapy and the following chemotherapy was not enough to overcome the cancers throughout her body. Meghan Baker Warner died April 27, 2010.
She was surrounded by family and friends up until her last moment. Sue Vasey sung "Amazing Grace", "Shepherd Me O God", "On Eagle's Wings", "Song of Angels", "We Walk By Faith",and "It's Well With My Soul" while Eleanor Parr played the organ during Meghan's funeral. At least Meghan's life was celebrated with music.
From support wristbands to registered charity
The Facebook page, which had supported Meghan throughout her courageous efforts, became a worldwide outpouring of support and love for those who had been close with Meghan. It was there that Adam Warner declared his intentions to complete Meghan’s life goal list, and where he shared his intent to turn For the Love of Meghan into a registered charity.
Support wristbands had already been available in order to assist Meghan with the cost of her care. After her passing, though, her For the Love of Meghan supporters continued their desire to contribute. Donations were ceaseless and bracelets were continually requested.
For this reason, among others, a registered charity called "For the Love of Meghan" seemed the natural choice. Warner sought to cross the globe, starting with Meghan’s native country, Canada, performing meaningful acts of charity in Meghan’s name and in her memory as he simultaneously completed the life goals on her list.
In his efforts, Warner has received growing and unconditional support from those who joined the Facebook group both before and after Meghan’s passing. The group came together to share everything they could in order to assist Warner with his mission. Offers to Warner included everything from travel miles to wholesale Canadian travel prices, marketing services to contacts in the media, and even a place to stay in people’s homes throughout Adam’s journey.
Life goals
It is important to note that Meghan’s list is not a "bucket list". That is a term that Meghan greatly disliked. Meghan wanted to live life to the fullest because life is worth living. Kicking the bucket had nothing to do with it. Adam Warner still refuses to use that name, saying "Don't call this a bucket list. No one is planning on dying. These are things that Meghan wanted to do and was unable to. These are goals."
In Meghan’s own words, the following is her original list of Life Goals.
# To hold a PhD, I'm not too picky on what it is going to be in. The way I am going though, I think it's bound to be nursing.
# To learn another language. I've got a head start on Korean and French, I just need to get motivated enough to do it.
# To master at least one of the following musical instruments - cornet, cello, piano, or guitar.
# To live in at least 5 different countries - So far I've only got Canada and Korea. I'm assuming that I will have United States in the near future (preferably San Fran, DC, Portland and Maine). I'm thinking somewhere in Europe and in South America?
# To run a half marathon. I've a lot of training to do though, seeing as the 5km I ran today was far from easy.
# Spend at least 100 hours volunteering. (Note*** So far I'm up to 40h :))
# Master the following- sewing, knitting & crocheting (Note*** on my way with knitting/sewing, kinda sorta.)
# Become part owner of a Bed & Breakfast (with Adam.)
# Travel to 30 countries. I'm at 7 now.
# Read at least 12 books a year until I die (Textbooks NOT included).
# Complete 'The Weekend to End Breast Cancer' 60km walk in Toronto.
# Own a little cottage by a lake.
Meghan’s revised list, shared February 7, 2010 was as follows:
# Take the train across Canada.
# Go to an NHL game (don't really care where, I just want to go.) - Completed March 6, 2010, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
# Make Peter take me (and friends) to a Blue Jays game... I don't really have any interest in baseball, but I think it would be fun.
# Go to the Symphony. Completed February 20, 2010, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
# Get married (hahaha, um... no pressure Adam.) Wedding was in Petrolia, Ontario, Canada, March 28, 2010
# Go to Canada's Wonderland with my friends/family.
# Take a road trip back to Maine.
# Go snowshoeing.
# Go ice-skating on the Rideau Canal.
# Get my darn tooth fixed.
# Get some darn shiny nice new glasses.
# I've always wanted to go to Ireland with my father... it's been a dream of mine since I was just a little girl. My father has been, and he loved it. I would love to share this with him while I still can. I don't think I'm ready to let go of this dream yet.
# See the northern lights.
# Travel to India to volunteer in orphanages.

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