More than one hundred people came together to pray for the safe return of a missing New Westminster mother in a special gathering in Stanley Park Monday night.
Thirty-two-year-old Florence Leung went missing on Tuesday, Oct.25. She was last seen leaving her home in New Westminster, alone in her white Audi Q5. Her car was found abandoned in Stanley Park the next day. North Shore Rescue searched for Leung in Stanley Park until Thursday afternoon before police suspended the search after finding no signs of her.
On Oct. 30, police released surveillance footage of Leung in a West End convenience store the night of her disappearance.
The footage, recovered from the City Park Express store on the 700-block of Denman Street, shows Leung purchasing Gatorade and a banana with cash on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at around 6:15 p.m.
WATCH: The family of a missing New Westminster mother is appealing to the public after new surveillance video surfaced showing Florence Leung hours after she disappeared last Tuesday
New Westminster Police say they don’t suspect any foul play.
However, investigators looking into Leung’s disappearance say she may be experiencing postpartum depression and they are concerned for her well-being.
Postpartum depression is a condition that may start during pregnancy or at any time up to a year after the birth of a child.
It is estimated anywhere from six to 13 per cent of moms in Canada experience the condition.
WATCH: Understanding postpartum depression
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Leung is described as Chinese, approximately 5’6” tall, with a slim build, long black hair and black eyes. Officers are actively investigating locations where Leung may be and are following up on all possible leads.
Rally organizers say dozens of family, friends and complete strangers have come together to canvass for Leung over the past two weeks.
Leung’s husband, Kim Chen, spoke at the rally and thanked the community for its support, adding the past two weeks have been the hardest time of his life.
“I miss Florence terribly,” said Chen. “We want to let Florence know that so many people care for her, love her and want her to be safe and well.”
Kimi Nomura Schwab, one of the rally organizers with Vancity Mom Squad, says she didn’t know Florence or her family, but being a mom to an 11-month-old boy, she wanted to help out any way she could.
“I am just out there to help support the family. It completely hits home,” said Nomura Schwab.
She says the Vancity Mom Squad held a postpartum depression awareness event in July.
“That was right around the time when Florence had her baby,” said Nomura Schwab. “If we only had been able to reach out to her, have her there and listen to other moms share their stories and say it will get better, we feel this would have been a different outcome.
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