Toronto teen, Olivia Wise whose cover of Katy Perry's "Roar" went viral has died. The 16-year-old was battling a brain tumor and passed away on Monday. A statement from Wise's family sent to CNN said, "She died peacefully in her home surrounded by the love of her family." Wise was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in 2012 after having a seizure. In September 2013 Wise recorded a cover of Katy Perry's hit song, "Roar" which gained over one-million views. Her cover helped to raise $ 77,000 for the Liv Wise Fund.
The Wise family started the charity to help raise money for brain tumor research. Wise's beautiful rendition of "Roar" inspired many and even prompted a response from singer Katy Perry. "I love you and a lot of people love you, and that's why your video got to me and moved everybody that saw it," Perry said. "So I just wanted to send you some love and some light and tell you that I'm thinking about you. Thank you so much keep roaring." On Tuesday Perry tweeted her condolences to the Wise family after learning of Olivia's death.
"Olivia Wise I can hear you singing with the angels now," Perry tweeted. "Your spirit & strength has inspired me & so many others...May you rest in peace." Wise decided to cover the song after she learned that there were no other treatment options available to her. In the video Olivia sits in a wheel chair singing softly. She struggles slightly to get the song out but when it comes time for the line "Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar" the teen is able to knock it out with energy and a smile.
In a letter to CNN Wise's mother said her daughter did not want people to cry at her funeral but would rather people celebrate her life. "In many ways, Olivia has lived a shortened, but full life," her mother wrote in the letter. "Every day, she wished for a cure, and rarely succumbed to negative thoughts...To tell the truth her diagnosis didn't change her personality. It only enhanced it. She took the news in a mature reasonable, responsible way...Even in the most difficult moments she managed to bring laughter and friendship to all that were caring for her."
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