11-year-old British Columbia advice book author celebrates birthday with fundraiser for late sister
Esquimalt, BC –
Before we can appreciate what Felix Townsin is hoping to get for his upcoming 12th birthday, we have to go back to the home video showing the then-five-year-old opening a box full of books.
“(It’s) not just any book,” the boy said with a smile, pulling out the hardcover for the camera to see. “(It’s my book!”
Felix was a published advice writer at age five.
“My parents gave me subjects,” the 11-year-old says of the writing process. “And I would just put all the advice on that subject in the book.”
It’s titled Don’t Floss (Before Flossing) and features pages filled with preschool advice ranging from “People will still love you if your socks don’t fit,” to “Don’t go up buildings unless you’re inside,” to “Eat your toast at upside down – toppings taste best when they touch your tongue.
“He had a very unique and crazy outlook on life,” recalls Cheryl-Lynn Townsin, Felix’s mother.
His son also had great admiration for his little sister Lexi.
“She had a spirit that wanted to make the world a better place,” Cheryl-Lynn says.
Felix was Lexi’s biggest fan.
When the girl videotaped Santa saying she didn’t need him to bring her a present (“It’s good that you take a break so you can relax”) — that she only wanted relief from the ultra-rare Blau Syndrome that was causing debilitating and excruciating inflammation throughout his body – Felix pledged to help find a cure.
“He wanted to make everything better,” says Cheryl-Lynn. “And he had no way to do it.”
Until he wrote this advice book as a fundraiser.
But then – two years ago – Lexi died unexpectedly.
Now the boy again offers his book to help others living with Blau.
“Felix is my hero,” Cheryl-Lynn said, fighting back tears. “He showed me that I can live after a loss that I never thought I could live with.”
Through his website, Felix is using his book to try to raise $10,000 before his 12th birthday next week.
“I hope (Lexi) is up there and really proud of our work,” Felix says.
The website also includes a video of Lexi sitting at a piano singing, “The sun will come out tomorrow.” Felix hopes, like the lyrics of the song, that his efforts can help another family find their happy ending just “in one day.”
