Celebrating Megan

Megan Nespliak’s life was as bright and colourful as the clothes she loved to wear.

The 22-year-old from Edmonton was diagnosed with a rare stage 4 stomach cancer in March 2022. Determined to use her platform as a social media influencer for good, Megan stayed positive throughout treatment and started a mantra, which she shared daily on social media. Her positivity and grace in the face of cancer treatment reached over 150,000 followers, raising awareness for rare cancer research and support programs.

Megan stands in front of the camera, the shot is close cropped

Megan: Hello my beautiful friends I hope you do something today that makes you and someone you love smile and if no ones told you today you are beautiful you are kind and you're the only one of you on this entire planet and if that's not the coolest thing you've ever heard I don't know what is.

Megan blows a kiss to the camera.

As her disease progressed, Megan’s dreams of attending New York Fashion Week were put on hold. Never one to lose hope, she created her own virtual version – Megan Fashion Week. Through MFW, Megan started a fundraising campaign online to raise funds for stomach cancer research. Her initial goal was to raise $100,000 and she managed to raise that amount in the first week! Her online community followed her prompted themes each day, sharing outfits and lifting each other’s spirits in her final weeks and after Megan’s passing on September 2, 2022. Over $250,000 – and counting – has been raised in Megan’s name to date.

Megan’s legacy lives on as her loved ones continue to support research into the prevention, treatment and support for those living with rare cancers, and specifically stomach cancer. Research like Dr Trevor Pugh’s project into a groundbreaking blood test that could detect rare genetic cancers even earlier, improving those patients’ treatments and chances for survival.

Support Megan’s legacy

“I hope you do something today that makes you and somebody you love smile. You are beautiful, you are kind, and you are the only one of you on this entire planet. If that’s not the coolest thing you’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is.”

- Megan Nespliak