A Sarnia volunteer's memory is continuing through a new scholarship.
The Sarnia Community Foundation (SCF) has launched the Sydney E. Vrolyk Memorial Scholarship Fund.
It's aimed at supporting and inspiring students who want to pursue post secondary studies in accessibility and inclusion.
Sydney's mother, Helen Van Sligtenhorst said she was grateful the idea happened behind the scenes. The SCF then came to the family, expressing interest in the scholarship.
She said hearing about this was a shock to their family.
"For this many people to love our daughter and to want to honour our daughter this way was truly overwhelming and we are so touched by the kindness of the community that Sydney lived in and that had supported her," Van Sligtenhorst said.
The scholarship will go to a Lambton County student who is pursuing a career in early childhood education, developmental service worker and special services at home worker.
Van Sligtenhorst said the scholarship will provide the person who needs the support a purpose.
"That's what we wanted for Sydney, we wanted Sydney's life to have a purpose. We wanted her to fill every day with good things. She needed support, she could not have done this on her own and having someone be there to be the supportive person for her is a true gift," she said.
Van Sligtenhorst highlighted the importance of having a scholarship like this.
She said it's important not to have finances come in between someone working with people with exceptionalities.
"These individuals who give up their heart to give our kids the best life ever, as Sydney would say, we don't want them to not be able to do this because they can't afford it," she said.
She said Sydney would be thrilled about this fund.
"She loved the people who worked with her. She had such a great time, she felt very independent, she felt like a peer, like they were friends to her," Van Sligtenhorst said." Every day that Sydney got up in the morning she had someone who supported her in her day, so that she could go and live a very fulfilling life."
Van Sligtenhorst said while the fund is for Sydney, it's also her daughter helping people.
"She couldn't do her paid positions without someone supporting her and now that she's going to be able to support someone else is truly, truly remarkable," she said.
Sydney passed away in September just days after her 25th birthday from Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder.
She was also one the recipients during the City of Sarnia accessibility awards. Sydney received the Kevin Schenk Legacy Award earlier this month.
The goal is for the fund to be $1,000 and to be handed out in June 2025.
The SCF is accepting donations, which can be made at the office at 109 Durant Street or online through the SCF website.