The overwhelming response to a GoFundMe page set up for the Humboldt Broncos hockey team and its related families has shown just how widespread the desire is in people to help in any way they can.
West Shore resident Rod Hurst is one of nearly 100,000 people who have donated or plan to donate to the fund, which as of late Tuesday was closing in on the $8 million mark.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 like any other Canadian, I was touched and devastated by [news of the crash],B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 a parent B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 a light switch was turned off for all those kids that didnB次元官网网址檛 make it.B次元官网网址�
People have been creative in the ways theyB次元官网网址檝e raised money for the cause. But HurstB次元官网网址檚 donation has a direct hockey connection: last weekend he auctioned off a mounted arena seat from the old Boston Garden, a piece he had planned to display in his soon-to-open collectibles shop, BearB次元官网网址檚 Den Trading Post in Coombs.
The auction raised $5,800 and the winning bidder was Rick Spray, who lives just outside Humboldt and has billeted Broncos players in past.
B次元官网网址淚 told him IB次元官网网址檇 like to come out and shake his hand,B次元官网网址� said Hurst, who is personally delivering the refurbished relic to Spray at the Humboldt arena. B次元官网网址淚 was rooting for him to win it.B次元官网网址�
As a career long-haul mover whoB次元官网网址檚 driven roughly 200 trips across Canada, by his estimation, Hurst is very familiar with the risks of the road.
That experience was just one of the thoughts that went through his mind when he learned about the tragic bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos hockey team and a transport truck.
B次元官网网址淚 see stuff all the time in my travels,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪ometimes IB次元官网网址檓 the first on the scene, itB次元官网网址檚 heart-wrenching thing to see B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檝e seen some pretty awful scenes where all I can do is comfort people and hold their hand knowing theyB次元官网网址檙e not going to make it.B次元官网网址�
Like many people whose children travel on sports teams, Hurst has felt the vague uneasiness watching his stepchildren head off on bus road trips. He feels for the families and friends of those lost and injured in the crash but has been impressed by the outpouring of support.
B次元官网网址淚 wish I could bring those people back, but I canB次元官网网址檛,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut out of a bad thing has come a lot of good situations. People have bonded together.B次元官网网址�
To donate to the for the Humboldt Broncos, visit bit.ly/2GFiPCU.
