A roar that will live on

CARA STERN CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS

The teenager who touched the hearts of more than one million people passed away Nov. 25 after two years of fighting an inoperable brain tumor. Olivia Wise was 16 years old.

In early October, shortly after finding out there were no other options for treatment, the teen recorded a cover of Katy Perry’s song “Roar,” and posted it to YouTube. More than one million people have since watched it.

The video’s popularity soared and even reached the pop star herself, who responded to Wise via video and later tweeted after Wise’s passing. She wrote: “Olivia Wise, I can hear you singing with the angels now. Your spirit and strength has inspired me and so many others…. May you rest in peace.”

Hundreds of students took part in an initiative organized by Hillel of Greater Toronto in which they paid tribute to Wise through a physical and video scrapbook with messages of hope.

The family has released the cover of “Roar” on iTunes and CD Baby, as well as an original song, “Simple Girl,” that Wise wrote when she was 11. She sang the songs in a Toronto studio with producer Jon Levine, who later added music behind Wise’s vocal track.

Sales of both songs will go to the Liv Wise Fund that her family set up to support children with cancer, as well as brain cancer research. The fund had raised more than $160,000 as of press time, and was climbing to its goal of $250,000.

Wise’s cousin, Jeff Kassel, said that Wise died peacefully in her home surrounded by her family. For more information or to donate, visit LivWiseFund.com.

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