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Organizers pleased with the support for fundraiser for Beattie family

Community rallies behind the Beattie family
Beattie family
The Beattie family, including Todd (second from left) and Holly (third from right). Photo courtesy GoFundMe

Organizers are pleased with the support they have received for a GoFundMe campaign to support a Moose Jaw family whose father was killed in a collision in British Columbia.

Todd Beattie, his wife Holly and son Kai were involved in a motor vehicle collision on Sept. 5 near Revelstoke, B.C., which claimed Todd’s life and put Holly and Kai in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

News reports say the RCMP is still investigating the matter.

Chad Miskiman has known the Beatties for 20 years and learned of the incident after the Beatties’ daughter called him shortly after the collision. The family had dropped her off in Nanaimo, B.C., for school before heading back to Saskatchewan. 

“I was quite shocked. Obviously, you don’t anticipate that something like that would happen. But I was shocked and saddened to hear of his passing,” Miskiman said. 

He and some friends met after work and discussed how they could support the family. He thought of starting a GoFundMe campaign, which he did a day after the collision. Miskiman set the total at $15,000 since he was unsure what to expect. But within hours, the fundraiser took off, and he kept increasing the total. 

“It’s a true testament to how many people knew Todd and Holly and what kind of a family they are,” he said. “I’d describe (Todd) as a gentle giant. He was a big burly man with a tough-looking exterior but a soft, giving person to those who were close to him.”

Todd, 48, had a quiet presence that could overtake a room whenever he entered, while he was an admirable man who was hard-working and great to be around, Miskiman continued. He also enjoyed hunting with his best friend.   

As of Sept. 15, the GoFundMe campaign stood at $65,425 with a goal of $70,000. Miskiman thought the current total was amazing and thought the support from the community was overwhelming and appreciated.

After the collision, Holly was airlifted to a Calgary hospital and remains stable after undergoing surgery on her collar bone and left arm. Miskiman noted that she is in good spirits; she had hoped to be transferred to Moose Jaw, but there is a “bed crunch” at the Wigmore hospital.

Meanwhile, Kai was taken to the children’s hospital in Calgary and has been discharged. All four of the Beatties’ children are now there with their mother.

A group of hockey dads in Moose Jaw has planned two rib night fundraisers at the end of September at the Crushed Can Sports Bar and Nightclub to support the Beatties. Tickets, however, are sold out.

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