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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday February 14, 2009 - 3 Cancer claims Team Alex namesake E leven-year-old Alex Pace fought an inspiring, dignified and determined two-year battle with cancer, which claimed his life, but not his spirit. That's what his parents, Len and Frances Pace stated in announcing "the passing of our dear, sweet son Alex on Feb. 12, 2009 as he approached his 12th birthday." Alex was a student at St. Dominic's School and a hockey player who did much, through his own spirit and the love of his family and friends, to create awareness and support research into the bone cancer with which he was diagnosed two years ago. Visitation will be held at the Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home at 64 Lakeshore Rd. W. on Monday from 1-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A mass in celebration of Alex's life will be held at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 2415 Rebecca St. at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17. "Alex showed all who came to know him how to maintain grace in the face of the most difficult of times; that kindness, selflessness and wisdom can shine through the darkest of days," states the notice of his death. Alex loved his cottage, reading, hockey, building things and being with his buddies and cousins. He was described as "being an encyclopedia, with information always on hand no matter the subject." He was said to be a person "who drew people to him with the warmth of his smile, his gentle soul and a wisdom that was beyond his years." Alex's brother, Ben, is two years his junior while his sister, Maddie, is two years older. His parents, in thanking the many health care professionals who assisted and cared for their son, did not forget to thank Team Alex. "Team Alex, you have shown us the power which friendship and love have to make a life and, perhaps, to save one too," they wrote in their son's death notice. Team Alex formed and participated, under the captainship of family friend Janet Reesor, in Oakville's Relay for Life in June just after Alex was diagnosed with bone cancer in March 2007. At the time, Alex was in Grade 4 and just finished his third round of chemotherapy. The team raised $10,000 toward cancer research that year. "He's an athlete. People call him The Little Man because he's like a little angel," Reesor told The Beaver at the time, adding, "The guy upstairs always wants to test the strong." Reesor's husband, Brian, went to university with the Paces and they are the reason she and her husband settled in Oakville. Their children were friends and Alex's diagnosis was very new and "raw" at the time, she'd said. "We wanted to do what we could to show our love and support for the family," Reesor had said, adding, "It's amazing that a 10-year-old boy has touched so many people. Out of difficulty often DEREK WOOLLAM / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER INSPIRATION: Alex Pace was the inspirational leader of Team Alex at last year's Relay for Life in Oakville. comes amazing learning that shows the true strength of friendship and family." Team Alex also participated in the 2008 Relay for Life event in Oakville -- once again clad in blue and white cycling-style jerseys that read Team Alex and took their theme from Lance Armstrong's fundraising efforts with the slogan, Life is Good. Oakville Beaver photographer Derek Woollam followed the team during the 2008 event as part of The Beaver's coverage and put together a slideshow, which will be used by the family in their son's memorial service. Following the first relay event in 2007, Canadian actor Christopher Bolton ­ who stars in the television series Rent-A-Goalie and is a graduate of Oakville Trafalgar High School ­ raised $60,000 for The Hospital for Sick Children by taking part in a gruelling bike race from Oceanside, Calif., to Atlantic City, N.J., in a little more than eight days. While Bolton supplied the muscle power for his bike, his inspiration was via the e-mail he received from his "partner" Alex. Alex was diagnosed with bone cancer after he collided with a teammate during a hockey practice and ended up with a nagging injury. As time passed, alarms bells went off and tests indicated Alex likely had something more serious. Alex was diagnosed at Sick Kids and in his lung. That was followed by intense physiotherapy and use of a walker and crutches. Last December, Alex had gone in for a regular check up to receive an all clear, however, a week later, his family found out the cancer had returned very aggressively, according to officials at the Canadian Cancer Society, Oakville Unit who dealt with Team Alex. Following Alex's celebration mass, interment will be at Trafalgar Lawn Cemetery, at Dundas Street West and Neyagawa Boulevard. In lieu of flowers, donations are being directed to Credit Valley Hospital Foundation, TourForKids.com, or a charity of choice. In lieu of so many offers of help, the Pace family is asking people to pay it forward through a blood donation, bone marrow registry, organ and tissue donation or other such gesture. Just last month, Alex's school St. Dominic's, held a special blood donor clinic in honour of Alex. School staff noted that Alex and his family were often asked how people could help. They would thank people for their kindness and noted the donations that would assist Alex as well as the many others who are ill. In early January, Canadian Blood Services held a blood donor clinic in honour of Alex at Hopedale Mall. -- with files from Torstar News Service chemotherapy began almost immediately followed by surgery to remove Alex's left femur, including the ball of his hip. To accommodate a metal femur, his left knee joint was also replaced and muscle tissue was transplanted. A portion of a rib was removed as were lesions in his lung. In a second surgery, the ball of Alex's right hip was replaced and the bottom portion of his right fibula was removed, as were more lesions