A colourful symbol of support has helped raise more than $1,600 for the family of Sarah Beckett.
Customers getting memorial ribbons inked at LangfordB次元官网网址檚 4 More Tattoos did so knowing the proceeds would go to the family of the fallen West Shore RCMP constable, who died in a motor vehicle crash a couple of blocks away on April 5.
B次元官网网址淪arahB次元官网网址檚 aunt was a very dear friend of mine for many years,B次元官网网址� said tattoo shop owner Doug Dunnett.
B次元官网网址淪o when it was brought up, (I thought) it was a good idea and a way to support the surviving family members. She served the public; (she made) the ultimate sacrifice.B次元官网网址�
Dunnett matched all proceeds up to $500 until studio staff presented $1,660 to the West Shore RCMP on April 19.
B次元官网网址淲e get a lot of thank youB次元官网网址檚 and compliments (from) people coming in, but it wasnB次元官网网址檛 really about the studio,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hank youB次元官网网址檚 should go to officers and employees. We didnB次元官网网址檛 raise the money, it was the community.B次元官网网址�
Staff Sgt. Steve Wright, who accepted the donation on behalf of the West Shore RCMP, said the support from the community as a whole has been overwhelming.
Even when he went to deposit the money the next morning, a gentleman stopped him at the bank and offered condolences.
B次元官网网址淪ome people are crying, come up and wanting to give us a hug, shake our hands, or stop and tell us how sad they are,B次元官网网址� Wright said. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 get tired of hearing that.B次元官网网址�
Others are offering to bring food to the detachment and toys for BeckettB次元官网网址檚 children. Financial donations collected for the Beckett family have reached $20,000 thus far.
Among upcoming events in the works to honour Beckett, a memorial will be held outside the West Shore RCMP detachment in Langford, where plants placed in BeckettB次元官网网址檚 memory will be planted in a garden alongside a bench. The City of Langford has also donated a memorial plaque.
B次元官网网址淲e have received support from civilians, military, fire and corrections (officers) right across Canada,B次元官网网址� Wright said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very heartwarming to see that, and itB次元官网网址檚 particularly moving when we receive condolences from children. B次元官网网址�(We got one) from a child who lost his mother at three and it moves you to tears. ItB次元官网网址檚 had a tremendous, uplifting effect on our staff and members here.B次元官网网址�
alim@goldstreamgazette.com
Online fundraiser, subsequent efforts bring in more than $100,000
A GoFundMe campaign set up for Sarah BeckettB次元官网网址檚 family by Kayla Reid and fellow members of the Team Defiance car club in Langford reached a staggering $94,820 by the time it ended on April 18 and was handed over to the RCMP.
A barbecue fundraiser held April 17 at Fountain Tire brought in more than $6,400. Part of that was $700 in tips received over a two-day span by servers at BrownB次元官网网址檚 Social House on Goldstream Avenue, and another $1,000 was collected for the trust fund at the candlelight walk held in BeckettB次元官网网址檚 memory on April 10.
B次元官网网址淣o thanks are needed from anyone,B次元官网网址� Team Defiance Sgt. at Arms, Deanna Jennings, said of the groupB次元官网网址檚 fundraising activities. B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 bring Sarah back, but our efforts ensure that her family will be well taken care of for years to come.B次元官网网址�
A Sarah Beckett Memorial Cruise raised $800 more for the fund, pushing the total to $101,244.45, a testament to the support the community at large has shown in the wake of the April 5 crash that took the 32-year-old officerB次元官网网址檚 life.
B次元官网网址� Don Descoteau
