Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand today to pay tribute to Mr. Simon Ibell of British Columbia, who unfortunately passed away on May 26 at the age of 39.
When Simon was two years old, he was diagnosed with Hunter's syndrome, a rare metabolic disorder that can cause potentially fatal organ damage. Despite doctors who claimed Simon would not see his fifth birthday, he lived a full and adventurous life.
Simon loved sports, and through sports, he advocated for people with rare illnesses. In 2003, he was named the Canadian Spirit of Sport Story of the Year for having biked 500 kilometres over 10 days on Vancouver Island and raising $250,000 for MPS diseases.
Simon was a hero to those who are fighting rare illnesses and was an inspiration to everyone who was lucky enough to meet him.
I thank Mr. Ibell for his dedication to his cause. His legacy will carry on.