The small town of Imaginarian has one big super hero - Captain Theo.
Sure, he's protected the villagers from many a boogie man and monster before, but now he faces his greatest challenge: the dark and evil Luke Eemia. And so the tale begins.
"Theo's story really inspired me," Sarah Smith said. "I wanted to make him a super hero. He is so young and battling this crazy cancer."
A few months ago, the Squamish resident sat down and picked up a pen. She wrote a fictional story starring Theo Lazaridis. Two years ago, just days before Christmas, Laura and Tasso Lazaridis were told that Theo, their then two-year-old son, had cancer.
Since the family was hit with the diagnosis, the community has rallied behind them in a wave of support. Last week, family friends Scott McQuade and Lauren Fraser launched a Facebook site - Squamish Kids Basecamp - where people can offer and bid on items in a fundraising auction.
Now Smith wants to do her part in aiding the Lazaridises and other families with children facing cancer. She hopes to publish and sell her children's book to earn money for Vancouver Children's Hospital.
"I was looking at publishing it myself," she said. "I want the proceeds to go toward helping kids like Theo."
Smith gave a copy to the Lazaridis family. She said she's not sure if Theo has seen it yet, as he's in isolation at the hospital. Smith, who works as a nanny when not studying at Capilano University, met Theo at a children's birthday party. His sweet nature struck her.
"The first time I met him, he was just so open to playing and having fun," Smith recalled.
To learn more about Theo's fight and two other children in Squamish currently battling cancer - two-year-old Lina Marie Palethorpe and six-year-old Jasmine Blake - visit the Squamish Kids Basecamp Facebook page.
Bidding on auction items closes on Friday (April 26) at 6 p.m. The auction includes everything from a round of mini-golf at the soon to open Whistle Punk Hollow Adventure Golf to a new kids' mountain bike.
To find out more about the book email miss.sarahsmith59@gmail.com.
