Bothell’s Foster dies at age 11

His grandmother described him as an “altruistic soul,” altruism also being a trait he managed — despite a young age and a fatal illness — to bring out in others.

After catching the attention of the entire area, if not the country, with a dying wish to help the homeless, Bothell’s Brenden Foster died from leukemia Nov. 21 at age 11.

Patricia McMorrow said her grandson became inspired to help those less fortunate after seeing a group of homeless people during one of his trips to a clinic in Seattle. Through a family friend, Brenden’s wish was passed along to the charitable organization Emerald City Lights, which Nov. 8 passed out sandwiches in his name to needy people in downtown Seattle. Brenden’s story was picked up by local TV and other media outlets.

“He was a little surprised by the way his wish caught on,” McMorrow said. “It was hard for him to take it all in.”

The publicity drove lots of people to take action. For example, a “Stuff a Truck” event benefiting Northwest Hunger held in Brenden’s name at several locations around the Seattle area Nov. 20 brought in $43,000 in cash and some 23,000 pounds of food, according to Claire Acey, Northwest Hunger communications director.

“I think it’s a wonderful commentary on the power of one person to galvanize the community,” Acey said.

Just in the last week or so, another area charity, Hopelink, announced the rough economy is leading to a significant increase in demand for food and other services, while donations are down. Acey said had it not been for Brenden and the “Stuff a Truck” event, her organization might have been in the same tough situation.

“(‘Stuff a Truck’) will help us for many months to come,” she added.

Acey continued that the swell of contributions will aid Northwest Hunger in overcoming what is usually a drop in donations following the Christmas holiday.

Far beyond even Northwest Hunger City Lights, many other groups and organizations responded to Brenden’s wish and his story. Players from the Seattle Seahawks personally donated money to pay for Brenden’s funeral expenses, said team spokesperson Suzanne Lavender.

“They were moved by his courageous fight and his wish,” she said.

The team holds an annual holiday food drive during a November home game, but extended that drive to two weeks after Brenden’s story began to spread. Lavender said donations were up over previous years, but could not say how much was collected.

McMorrow said Brenden considered all the attention, all the contributions he generated “a miracle.” She added the publicity around Brenden’s wish has helped her family, as well.

“We’ve been left with a sense of peace, that his life meant something,” McMorrow said.

Brenden is survived by his parents, Wendy Sutton, Lee Spence and Mike Foster; siblings, Crystal and Mitchel; grandparents, Patricia and Jim McMorrow, Dean and Sandra Sutton and Dan and Rebecca Foster; great grandparents; several aunts and uncles; and his godparents.

Private services are being held Dec. 6 in Seattle.