The City of Airdrie has lost a great man and a champion for needy children and their families.

Jim McPhee, the President and one of the driving forces behind Stephen's Backpacks Society passed away on Thursday, May 4th at the age of 74 after a 13 year battle with cancer.

McPhee had overseen the charity, which was the brain child of his five year old son Stephen, since its inception.  In ten years, the charity has reached more than 45,000 children in need, helped 33 families into new housing from shelters, and delivered over 15,000 pairs of new running shoes for schools.

Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown says the city has lost a champion.  "People just don't understand the impact of Stephen;s Backpacks, and it's more than just backpacks.  They were furnishing houses for young moms who were having challenges.  You always saw him driving his Stephen's Backpacks van through the community and he was going somewhere to help somebody, and that's what his life was all about.  He's an amazing individual, someone I respected and admired and someone who will be clearly missed in our community."

Brown says his heart goes out to Jim's wife Nancy and her family.  "Nancy has a broken heart and I would just ask the community if you see Nancy give her a hug because she's going to need a lot of support over the coming days, weeks and months.  We just feel for the McPhee family and all of their friends and I just know his legacy will endure for years to come."

Brown says even in his last days, McPhee never lost his sense of humour and his love for people.  "People can learn from men like him.  He had such adversity and he fought it with a smile on his face.  He said 'I'm going to keep going forward, the next foot forward.  He was an incredible individual and we've lost another great citizen in Airdrie."

A candlight celebration for the man his wife called "Superman Scottie" is planned for Friday night, May 12th at 7:00 pm at Airdrie's Town and Country Centre at 275 Jensen Drive.  Jim's wish was to have his memory help children in need, so in lieu of flowers you're asked to make donations to Stephen's Backpacks Society.

 

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