Lina Marley and Meow-Me are best friends. They play together, dance together and dream together.
Now Meow-Me is the star of Lina’s first book, My Cat, illustrated by her mother, Susan Guttridge. Profits from the book are going to the Canadian Cancer Society in memory of Lina’s uncle, who died from cancer two years ago.
“One day last year, I was mad at my little sister for squishing Meow-Me so I decided to write a story about her. I wrote it and showed it to my Mom,” said Lina, eight, a Grade 2 student at Mission Hill Elementary.
Lina has written a lot of stories and her mother enjoys them all.
“She brought me pages and pages. It was pretty amazing. Every night we worked on the pictures for the story,” said Guttridge, who did the playful paper collage illustrations.
“Since we have lost some family members to cancer, we know how you can feel really helpless in the face of cancer, but now we feel we are doing something to help others.”
Lina’s father, Derek Marley, added, “Our family members thought it was charming that Lina is giving the money to the cancer society. It means a lot to a lot of people.”
It was special for Lina to see her story as a book. Her sister, Mia, three, likes the book, too.
“The best part is the pictures my mom made,” said Lina. “Meow-Me is the best pet. She’s funny and soft and I can dress her up. She’s an amazing pet.”
Lina will be at a book signing fundraiser Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at The Cracked Pot Coffee Emporium. She will also be at Relay for Life in Polson Park from 6 to 9 p.m. June 2.
My Cat is also available at Gallery Vertigo, the Canadian Cancer Society, or by contacting mycat.fundraiser@gmail.com.
The Canadian Cancer Society provides information, support, practical assistance and a summer camp for people who have cancer, as well as promoting healthy living policies to prevent cancer. For more information see cancer.ca.
