Cristina Roque's legacy lives on through coffee house fundraiser

It doesn't take long for tears to flow when Fran Roque of Sudbury talks about her daughter Cristina.

"I had my life up until Cristina died. From that day on it was a different life," said Roque, calling her eldest daughter "a piece of the puzzle that's always missing."

Cristina died March 5, 2012 from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at Ottawa General Hospital at the age of 29. She was an elementary school teacher, rhythmic gymnasticsinstructor, soccer coach and yoga leader.

Since her death, friends and family have been actively trying to help others affected bycancer.

In 2013 a coffee house fundraiser was held in Cristina's memory to raise money for televisions at the Ottawa hospital, where Cristinareceived a stem-cell transplant.

Roque saidthere were 10 televisions for 20 rooms.

"The patients would be stalking each other," wanting to get into a room with a television.

Thanks to the fundraiser, all rooms are now equipped with televisions.

An annual event

The coffee house has become an annual event, withmoney raised goingto families in northern Ontario who need to travel for cancer treatment.So far 20 families have been received funds.

One from a man in New Liskeard who's wife was rushed to hospital in Sudbury wrote:"I have exhausted all available funds to stay with my wife. The help from the Cristina Fund means more to methan I can ever really say."

A Sudbury woman who's husband is receiving cancer treatment in Ottawa wrote: "We've been blessed with so many family and friends who have supported us with their love, help and prayers. The Cristina Care Fund and the family behind it is definitely one of these blessings."

Roque saidproviding the financial assistance is what her daughter would have wanted.

She recently read an entry fromCristina's diary that was writtenshortly after her daughter was diagnosed with cancer.

"She (Cristina) wanted to help in a big way but at that time did not know what, or how to do it ... she always tried to help others,"saidRoque.

So far $30,000 has been raised for families who need to travel for cancer treatment.