The Craig Kulig Memorial Fund
The Craig Kulig Memorial Fund was created to support The Ottawa Hospital and its research into more effective and gentler cancer therapies.
Darlene’s nephew, Craig Kulig, passed away in 2016 at the age of 23 after a brave battle with cancer. Craig’s father, Bruce established this memorial fund in his name.
The Craig Kulig Memorial Fund was created to support The Ottawa Hospital and its research into more effective and gentler cancer therapies. The hope is that, some day, this work will save people from suffering the same fate as Craig, not only in Ottawa, but across the country and around the world.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Darlene created a series of face masks, raising funds in support of The Craig Kulig Memorial Fund.
About Craig
– By Bruce Kulig
My son Craig Kulig passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on July 18, 2016 at the age of just 23.
Born in Ottawa and a graduate of Osgoode Township High School, Craig was halfway through the Mechanical Engineering Technology program at Algonquin College when he was diagnosed with cancer. Craig was a beloved son and best friend to myself and Angela Kulig. He was the cherished big brother and soul mate to Mitchell and Katrina Kulig.
With knowledge and insight beyond his years and a grounded personality, Craig was often doling out advice to family and friends. Craig would spend hours studying the mechanics and the history behind everything he had an interest in or worked on.
An avid ATV and car enthusiast, Craig spent much of his time working on his cars or touring the Ompah ATV trails, as well as hanging out with friends, camping, and jamming on his favourite acoustic bass guitar.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Darlene partnered with BYOM, a family owned company in Toronto, to make high quality face masks featuring her art. The masks came about as a way to bring awareness to The Craig Kulig Memorial Fund with some of the proceeds donated to the Fund in support of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
The masks are made of a high quality, 3-layer fabric with middle and inside layers of woven polypropylene and the outer layer is polyester. Designed with protection and comfort in mind and for breathability, they feature adjustable ear loops and nose wires, making for a better fit. They are professionally sewn with ribbing around the mask to maintain shape and are machine washable. Quality and protection is provided with each BYOM mask.
Darlene’s Dragonfly mask is especially symbolic to Craig’s legacy. Shortly after Craig’s passing, Darlene asked her brother Bruce, Craig’s dad, to take her on an ATV ride following trails that her nephew loved so much. Taking many pictures along the way, Darlene created a painting that combined the scenes from the trails along with a dragonfly in the forefront, a symbol of metamorphosis and transformation. The Dragonfly painting, and now the mask, beautifully symbolize the spirit of Craig which continues to live on.
Artist honours nephew with fundraiser for the Ottawa Hospital
Dragonfly Ascending Into Twilight, by Darlene Kulig Ottawa-born artist Darlene Kulig started raising funds in support of cancer research after the loss of her beloved nephew Craig to cancer.
Dragonfly Ascending Into Twilight, by Darlene Kulig
Read the profiles on our fundraising in Ottawa Life Magazine and in OCAD’s Newsletter.
All proceeds from the Face Masks and a portion of the proceeds of the Note Cards go to The Craig Kulig Memorial Fund for cancer research at The Ottawa Hospital.
