In honour of the four teens who died last year, Cochrane youth are hosting a memorial charity event in August.
“We decided to host this event to show the community even though we all live separately and might not know each other that we are all here for each other and it shows that we can all support each other and can have fun together and we still have kindness between each other and we can show that – we can ripple the kindness,” said Meaghan Halkyard, event organizer.
The memorial event is inviting residents and guests out to play a game of Capture the Flag, while also encouraging people to capture the kindness. Organizers are asking each participant to pledge to do a random act of kindness, to be matched by the Cochrane youth.
“I think it is important to host events like this because we don’t always know each other and not all of us have a support system and in the long run, even helping one person just showing your there for them can make a difference in someone’s life,” Halkyard said.
While capturing flags and kindness organizers will also be raising money for the Lamont Murphy scholarship fund, a scholarship to be awarded to a youth in the community who has demonstrated outstanding character, kindness and citizenship.
“It is really sweet, my purpose now is living in his legacy of kindness and a contagious smile – I am a seeker of kindness and compassion and I laugh, we had humour in the house,” said Kari Murphy, mother of the late teen Lamont.
“Seeing young people give back is probably the single most healing thing for me… I never expected any of this.”
Organizers will be fundraising through the registration fees, a silent auction (which they are still gratefully accepting donations), and selling silicon wristbands with the message “Just Keep Going” for $3 each, with 100 per cent of the proceeds to go towards the Lamont Murphy scholarship.
“We thought a year had passed so we are going to make (the memorial) more positive this time and focus on the care and compassion we can show each other, once you start it, it just keeping rippling and you can carry forward,” Halkyard said.
Wristbands are being sold at Tremar Computer Solutions, Sapphire Electrolysis and Karla Jackson Bookkeeping. The boxes that hold the donations were made by Lamont’s friends and hand painted by town Coun. Mary Lou Davis-Ekmeier with a butterfly on each cash box as a symbol of hope.
“(Lamont) has inspired a lot of us to keep going and it is through him and his spirit of giving and compassionate that we will continue to pay it forward in honour of him,” Halkyard said.
The Ultimate Capture the Flag memorial event will be hosted on Aug. 19 from 1 – 11 p.m. at Mitford Park. Teams of 10 can sign up for one-hour time slots where they can take on a rival team. Organizers are also encouraging businesses to challenge each other for some friendly competition.
For more information, go to the official Facebook page at “Ultimate Capture the Flag 2k16.”
