Former UVic soccer star who inspired cancer fundraiser has died
CTV
Mackenzie Rigg, a University of Victoria alumnus who helped raise more than $120,000 for brain tumour research after being diagnosed with stage four brain cancer in August 2020, has died.
The UVic soccer standout spoke to CTV News in October 2020, when the Vikes Kick Cancer fundraiser started in his honour had raised $27,000 in just three days, an outpouring of support for which he was extremely grateful.
“I think in a lot of ways, I could argue I’m unlucky because it’s such a freak thing that has happened to me,” Rigg said at the time.
“But in a lot of ways I’m feeling pretty lucky right now.”
That initial Vikes Kick Cancer campaign would go on to raise more than $80,000 for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. Last year, the campaign raised another almost $40,000.
In a news release, the UVic Department of Athletics and Recreation shared its condolences with Rigg's family.
"Mackenzie personified everything it means to be a Vike," said Clint Hamilton, the university's senior director of athletics and recreation, in the statement.
"He had a wonderfully contagious positive spirit which inspired all in his presence. Mackenzie's talent as a player was exceeded only by his leadership ability — he cared about his teammates and genuinely wanted to help them anyway he could, encouraging them to give back wherever possible."
UVic men's soccer head coach Bruce Wilson called Rigg's death "tragic news."
