Manitoba

'He's our superhero': young boy who died of cancer remembered at Comic Con

Sheena Gruhn stands in front of a poster of her nephew, Brody Birell-Gruhn, dressed in a superhero costume with a giant smile on his face. Birell-Gruhn passed away from childhood cancer at three years old in 2015.

Brody Birell-Gruhn, 3, loved superheroes

Brody Birell-Gruhn, 3, loved superheroes. He died after battling childhood cancer in 2015. (Cliff Simpson/CBC)

Sheena Gruhn stands in front of a poster of her nephew, Brody Birell-Gruhn, dressed in a superhero costume with a giant smile on his face. 

Birell-Gruhn passed away from childhood cancer at three years old in 2015.

"He's our superhero. He's the inspiration behind Team Brody and everything we do every day," Gruhn said standing at a booth at Manitoba Comic Con on Sunday.

The Team Brody Foundation was started by the young boy's family after his death to financially assist other Manitoba families affected by childhood cancers.

"When we raise money we put it back to families that were affected by childhood cancer like we were," Gruhn said. "That can either be parking, mortgage, groceries, a night out, whatever. Something to help out."

Sheena Gruhn and Brody Birell-Gruhn's mother, Tori Gruhn, speak with people about the young boy at Manitoba Comic Con on Sunday. (Cliff Simpson/CBC)

The group has held different events like bakes sales, summer ball hockey tournaments and toy drives. They were invited to the event at RBC Convention Centre to spread awareness, raise money and remember their favourite little hero.

"Brody was a spunky kid, always smiling and having fun, even going through treatments," Gruhn said, adding he loved Captain America and Iron Man.

"We are going to do it for him. We are going to carry on his legacy and make sure that nobody ever forgets about him because we certainly won't."

The busy booth had lots of people stop by and pick up information pamphlets and stick-on tattoos from Gruhn and the young boy's mother, Tori.

Gruhn said her nephew would have loved it.