Jason Zelward. (Image: Ashley Zelward/submitted)
Jason Zelward was a physical enthusiast and a major in the Canadian Armed Forces whose life was cut short by cancer.
Zelward died in Nov. 2018 at the age of 35, leaving behind his wife Bridget, whom he had just married a few weeks earlier.
But his family hopes an annual fundraiser named in his honour will help keep his memory alive and raise money for a local grief centre.
The 2nd annual Jason Zelward Physical Challenge takes place this weekend with all money raised going to support the Compassionate Grief Centre.
“It’s an honour to have it named my brother for the second year in a row,” Zelward’s sister, Ashley, said in an interview this week.
Born in Saint John on June 28, 1983, Zelward served with the Royal Canadian Engineers in the Canadian Forces for 17 years, primarily in Oromocto at Base Gagetown and with 1 Canadian Engineer Regiment in Edmonton.
He faced his brief cancer battle with “an indomitable spirit and determination,” according to his obituary, and focused on bringing joy and laughter into the lives of his family, friends and the people around him.
Jason Zelward married his fiancé, Bridget, just a few weeks before his passing in Nov. 2018. (Image: Ashley Zelward/submitted)
Jason spent his final days at Bobby’s Hospice in Saint John, where his sister said he made deep connections with many people there.
One of those connections was with Jamie Godfrey, who co-founded the Compassionate Grief Centre in Rothesay.
“She felt a connection with him so that’s where we came upon the idea of naming this event after him,” said Ashley.
The Jason Zelward Physical Challenge is a co-ed tug-of-war event featuring teams of five people competing for the chance to be crowned tournament champions.
Ashley said as a physical enthusiast, she thinks her brother would have absolutely loved the event.
“He was a very conscious person in terms of mental health needs and I’m sure he would probably be in support knowing that there’s a lack of that kind of support in the community,” she said.
Jason Zelward. (Image: Compassionate Grief Centre/Facebook)
“We seem to get more and more support every year and we’re excited to see how much money we can raise for the grief centre.”
This year’s honorary family is the family of Amanda O’Brien, who died last October at the age of 39 from ovarian cancer.
Amanda’s mother, Cecilia Turple, said she feels fortunate that she and her family found the Compassionate Grief Centre and its counsellors.
“I knew that I needed some help in moving forward in the most positive way that would be possible following the deepest loss a mother can ever have,” Turple said in a news release.
“I really was skeptical that anyone could help me deal with the utter sadness and despair that I felt at losing my beautiful young daughter at such a young age.”
The Jason Zelward Physical Challenge takes place at the Simonds High School football field on Saturday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Registration is $125 per team and pledge sheets are available for fundraising. You can register your team online.
Fundy Funeral Home is matching all donations up to a maximum of $3,000.
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