Westerly — A celebration of the life of 8-year-old Dorian Murray, better known as #dstrong to people around the world, will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Westerly High School track.

In a Facebook posting, Dorian’s mother, Melissa Murray, and she and his father, Chris Murray, are inviting people to the candlelight memorial.

It will include music from Rachael Fusaro, singer/songwriter of “Never Giving Up (#dstrong)”, a prayer from Pastor Mark Benson of the Joy Fellowship Assembly of God Church in Bradford, R.I., and a moment of silence.

People are asked to bring their own flameless candles. Blue glow sticks will be provided while supplies last.  

At the request of the school, participants are asked not to wear high heels or take baby strollers on the track. Bleachers are available for seating.

When Dorian, who died March 8 after a battle with cancer, and his parents decided to discontinue his treatment after New Year’s Day, the third grader at Springbrook Elementary School said he had just one wish — he wanted to be famous.

Even, he told his parents, as far away as the Great Wall of China, which he called the big bridge.

What started as a few posts by family and friends about his wish exploded into a wave of social media support for Dorian, led by the hashtag #dstrong.

One photo, “#dstrong — You’re famous in China” was quickly posted from the Great Wall.

Thousands of messages of support flooded in from not just Westerly and Stonington but countries across the globe.

Global news organizations such as CBS News and the BBC broadcasts stories about him and celebrities posted their support on Twitter.

Signs of #dstrong in blue letters were plastered on the front of businesses, homes, schools, fire stations and police departments throughout the community.

Melissa Murray also has announced the creation of the Dorian J. Murray Foundation, a pending nonprofit organization to not only “keep the #dstrong‬movement alive forever” but to bring awareness to pediatric cancer.

In a Facebook posting Sunday, she thanked everyone who has “offered their condolences, love, support and faith after hearing of D’s passing. Your words of encouragement are truly helpful.”

“Dorian’s wake and funeral were both beautiful. It has been a very emotional few days, but we are staying ‪#dstrong for Dorian. I think of Dorian all the time, he never leaves my thoughts. I thought I would be crying every second he's gone, but I'm finding that I'm still able to smile and laugh. It felt wrong at first ... how can I smile while my son just passed away.... but the answer is so easy to see; it's what Dorian wanted. He told me once that he wasn't afraid to go to heaven, but that he was worried about me. He was concerned that I wouldn't have 'girls night' anymore and that I wouldn't enjoy my wine as much. He was so at peace with his fate, all his worry was for me. I can't let him down. I'll find a way to smile and be happy every single day. For him and for me," she wrote.

j.wojtas@theday.com