🏴☠️ Nakama — the people you’d do anything for
For Our FriendDylan
He reminded us that this hobby stuff isn’t about the cards or the books. It’s about the people you share it with.
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TCG Cards for Kids
Donate cards to fund grants and give kids something to love
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Dylan’s Bookshelf
Sharing the books Dylan loved with kids and families who need them
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Become Nakama
Volunteer, donate, spread the word — join Dylan’s crew
Remembering Dylan
The Kindest Person to Ever Walk Through Our Doors
Dylan Bourassa was one of the kindest, most genuinely cheerful people to ever walk through our doors. Everyone loved him. The dogs knew it too — Sassi gave him a hug every single time she saw him. Animals just know.
Dylan was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer, when he was 13. He spent almost 10 years fighting this cancer off and on, with a total of 5 rediagnoses.
Despite everything he went through, you would never know. He cared for everyone around him so much that he would always check in on others, even when he wasn’t feeling well. He would light up any room he was in and make anyone feel loved and appreciated. That was Dylan. He never once complained about what he was going through. He would be dealing with his own battles and still making sure everyone around him was okay.
Dylan was really into anime, especially One Piece and Solo Leveling. His favorite anime character was Zoro. If anyone was looking to read a book, Dylan would tell them to read Solo Leveling or Primal Hunter. He started getting into TCG (trading card games), focusing on One Piece. And that’s where his love and connection to Izzi’s Gym came in. He would spend hours there every day – finding more cards to collect, playing games with others, and talking continuously to anyone. Izzi’s Gym was his second home – that’s where he met his best friends.
Dylan Loved
- One Piece (Zoro was his guy)
- Solo Leveling
- Primal Hunter
- TCG Cards
- Reading & Sharing Books
- His Community
The Zoro & Kuina Parallel
Carrying His Sword
Dylan’s favorite One Piece character was Zoro. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that me and Dylan’s story parallels Zoro and Kuina.
Just like Zoro, I found someone who shared my passions — someone who pushed me, who showed me new things, who made the things I already loved even better.
Zoro and Kuina made a promise to each other: that one of them would become the greatest swordsman in the world. And when Kuina was taken from him too soon, Zoro didn’t let that promise die. He picked up her sword and carried it with him everywhere he went.
Her dream became his fuel. Her memory became his strength. Every battle Zoro fights, he fights for both of them.
That’s what I’m going to do for Dylan. Every book I pick up, every card I open, every time I get to share something I love with someone new — Dylan’s in that.
I’m going to carry his sword. And I’m not just going to talk about it. I’m going to do something.
What We’re Building for Dylan
Give Kids and Families Something to Look Forward To
Along with Dylan’s good friend PT Dan and his charity Kids Cancer PT, we launched Dylan’s Nakama. Here’s how it works.
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TCG Card Donations
You donate TCG cards. We sell the valuable ones to fund grants for families dealing with childhood cancer — in treatment, remission, and beyond. The rest go straight to the kids and their siblings — cards to collect, trade, and build decks with.
Dylan loved collecting and trading cards. Every card donated carries his spirit forward.
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Dylan’s Bookshelf
Dylan loved reading. He’s the reason I found my favorite books. So we’re going to share that with as many kids and families as we can — starting with copies of Solo Leveling, the series Dylan lent me when we first became friends.
Every copy has a custom bookplate inside, telling you about our buddy Dylan.
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Kids Cancer PT Partnership
Everything we raise goes through PT Dan and Kids Cancer PT to fund grants for families navigating childhood cancer and to buy toys, games, and other items that his patients love. Real help, for real families, in Dylan’s name.
Dylan never stopped checking on others. This is how we keep that going.
Dylan’s Bookshelf
“Trust Me, You’ll Love This”
The best thing a friend can do is hand you a book and say “trust me.” Dylan did that for me with Solo Leveling. He did it with Primal Hunter. He changed what I read and how I thought about sharing the things you love.
This weekend I pulled a Sabo SP. Whatever it sells for, I’m putting every dollar into copies of the first Solo Leveling novel — the same series Dylan lent me when we first became friends.
Inside Every Book
Every copy will have a custom bookplate telling you about our best friend Dylan — who he was, what he loved, and why this book is in your hands. Because Dylan believed that sharing the things you love is how you make real friends.
The Nakama Network
Share Your Passions
We Find Your Match
Connect & Inspire
What’s Your Thing?
For Dylan
Ways to Join the Crew
Dylan reminded us it’s about the people. Here’s how you become one of them.
Donate TCG Cards
Got cards collecting dust? Ship them to us. Valuable ones fund grants for families. The rest go to kids and their siblings who’ll actually play with them — just like Dylan would’ve wanted.
Donate Books
Help us fill Dylan’s Bookshelf. Donate books, fund copies of Solo Leveling, or sponsor custom bookplates that share Dylan’s story with every reader.
Spread the Word
Share Dylan’s story. Tell your local game shop, your book club, your online community. The more people know, the more kids and families we reach.
Volunteer Your Time
Help us sort cards, organize book drives, run events, or connect with kids and families in your community. Dylan was always showing up for other people — this is how we show up for him.
Become Nakama
Set Sail With Us
Dylan’s crew is still growing. Whether you donate, volunteer, share a story, or just pass along his name — you’re nakama now. The people you’d do anything for.