Ryan Reynolds dedicates Critics' Choice award to Connor McGrath, Grace Bowen

Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds dedicated his 2017 Critics' Choice Award to the memory of two Canadian children who died from cancer.

Reynolds was presentedthe Entertainer of the Year Award at a gala in Santa Monica, Calif. Sunday night.

"The character had cancer and some of the people that this character resonated with were sick kids," Reynolds said."So I would like to dedicate this honour to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the SickKids Foundation of Toronto, two incredible organizations that do so much for so many kids in need."

"And I would also like to dedicate this award to the memory of my friends Connor McGrath and Grace Bowen. They didn't lose the battle, but they started the fight and it's up to us to finish it."

McGrath, 13, who lived in Edmonton but had roots in Newfoundland and Labrador, died of leukemia earlier in 2016. Bowen, 9, died from Osteosarcoma.

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Bowen's story has since been featured in aToronto's SickKids Hospital campaign, titled SickKids vs. Cancer.

Both of the children were fans of Reynolds, and gotto meet and hang out with the Deadpool star.

Reynolds gave McGrath an exclusive screening of Deadpool before it hit theaters.