Felix Townsin, a 14-year-old student at Royal Bay Secondary School in Victoria, is not your average teenager.
Townsin’s advocacy journey began when he was only five years old, writing a book called Don’t Floss Your Toes: Advice from a 5-Year-Old that raised more than $75,000 for medical research.
Inspired by his sister Lexi, who passed away five years ago from the rare disease Blau syndrome, Townsin wrote the book to raise awareness and funds for his sister’s condition.
“Lexi was just two years old at the time and in so much pain,” he says.
“I desperately wanted to help her but felt powerless. I used to pretend to be a doctor and make up cures, but as I got older, I realized that helping her would take more than pretend remedies. I saw my dad writing books and selling them and thought that maybe I could do that for a fundraiser and to raise awareness to find someone who could help my sister. Writing Don’t Floss Your Toes made me feel like I was doing something to help Lexi.”
Blau syndrome is an inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the skin, joints and eyes. Signs and symptoms begin in childhood, usually before age four. Lexi was diagnosed with the disease in 2013 and died in 2019.
Townsin has dedicated his young life to advocating on behalf of children like his sister. He travelled to Kansas City this fall, where he was a guest speaker at one of the world’s largest rare disease advocacy gatherings. Felix has also presented at medical conferences across Europe and is preparing for another talk in Australia.
A Million Acts of Love
Townsin is expanding his efforts far beyond rare disease advocacy with the launch of his global kindness movement, A Million Acts of Love.
Townsin’s vision is to unite people globally to take meaningful action on causes they care about and inspire one million acts of kindness by December 16—what would have been Lexi’s 12th birthday.
A Million Acts of Love encourages people to focus on the causes that matter most to them while recognizing the collective power of community action to change the world.
“Lexi was the most loving and giving person I knew, and I can’t think of a better gift for her than a million acts of love for the world—that’s exactly the kind of selfless gift she would want. We’re uniting people to tackle the world’s challenges together,” says Townsin.
“Whether it’s feeding people in need, helping animals or simply bringing a smile to someone’s face, each act counts. This campaign isn’t just about words—it’s about taking action.”
One recent participant in the movement, a child even younger than Felix, demonstrated this spirit by handing out 50 sandwiches with their parent in downtown Victoria. In the same week, another participant in India bought meals for 50 children.
“That’s 50 acts of love each,” Townsin says. “These stories show how anyone, anywhere, can make a difference.”
Concert Kick Off
The campaign was officially launched in Victoria on October 18 at a benefit concert featuring top musical artists, including Leeroy Stagger, Caleb Hart, Daniel Lapp, the BC Fiddle Orchestra and 13-year-old sensation Chase Varnes, all donating their time to help Felix reach his goal.
The event raised an impressive $15,000 to support A Million Acts of Love grants, providing resources for young changemakers.
“A Million Acts of Love grants support young changemakers to start their own social initiatives,” says Townsin.
“The grants are open to kids ages six to 18 who want to make a positive impact in their communities, whether it’s starting a neighbourhood kindness project or tackling a bigger global issue. They may even want to do a legacy project for a loved one, like I have done for Lexi. The grants help kids like me take their first steps in making the world a better place.”
The October 18 event also inspired 20,0000 acts of kindness.
“It’s about creating spaces where people of all ages feel connected, support one another and take responsibility for our shared future,” says Townsin.
“When we put our differences aside and come together, we create a place where everyone can thrive. When kids grow up in this kind of environment, see beyond themselves and are empowered to make a positive impact, they are more likely to flourish.”
To have your acts of love counted toward Felix’s goal or support the grants initiative, visit amillionactsoflove.com.
