Yosef Nider is 6. He likes to ski and play Lego with his grandfather, Marvin Nider. A few months ago, he found out he won’t be able to do that for much longer. His grandfather is in the late stages of pancreatic cancer. Marvin has 1–3 months to live.
Elizabeth Nider, Yosef’s mom remembers the day she had to tell her son about his ‘Zaida’ dying. She recalls that he seemed okay with it, believing that souls gather in a special place after passing. But later that night, he came into his parents’ room, well after bedtime, and reported that he couldn’t sleep because he just wanted to spend as much time as possible with his Zaida before he’s gone.
It was a few days later when Yosef started asking about charity. He wanted to know if you could only help people who didn’t have enough money. When he discovered that charity can be collected for any person or group doing good things, he made his proposition, “I want to make a fundraiser for cancer scientists so that they can find a cure for Zaida.”
His plan was to play the violin and call it Concert for a Cure. Yosef knows that the money he’s raising is unlikely to save his grandfather but he wants to do it for others; other grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters. As Elizabeth puts it, “Yosef wants to end cancer, period. Of course ultimately if his grandfather could be cured Yosef would be on cloud nine, but he understands that it’s a global problem.”
The concert is set for February 26th at the Vancouver Hebrew Academy and it’s no longer just little 6 year-old Yosef playing the violin. On hearing his story, Yosef’s violin teacher offered to accompany him as did their family friend, Connie Gitlin a clarinetist with the Winnipeg Orchestra.
Yosef has raised over $6200 to date, far surpassing his original goal of $1000. He’s canvassed on a busy Vancouver street with his homemade sign to get the word out. He’ll be back out on Oak St. soon, collecting more funds and hoping to fill every single one of the 179 seats available for the concert.
We have a feeling it'll be standing room only.
Marvin Nider, 65, spent decades owning & operating a chain of pharmacies specializing in natural health solutions before retiring after his diagnosis. To donate (via the BC Cancer Foundation) to Yosef’s Concert for a Cure or for ticket information go here.
Yosef playing lego with his Grandfather.
