Over $14,000 raised for homeless man severely beaten in Nova Scotia

NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. – The woman responsible for organizing a fundraising campaign for a homeless man severely beaten in Cape Breton last Monday says she is blown away by how much money has been donated so far.

Well-wishers from across Canada contributed more than $14,000 is less than 24 hours after Julia Hawkins of Little Pond, N.S., set up an online account Friday evening.

“I never expected that, I really didn’t,” said Hawkins. “I just thought it would be nice if we had a couple thousand dollars to give him to get back on his feet.”

On Monday, police found a 48-year-old man lying seriously injured in a North Sydney grocery store parking lot.

Police say four people face charges in connection with the assault.

In the meantime, donations and wishes for a speedy recovery continue to pour in for the victim.

“I was going to write down everybody’s name and put it in a card, but there’s probably thousands of names. I can’t even keep up to the donations that are coming in,” said Hawkins. “I don’t want him to think that because of what happened that Cape Breton is a bad place.”

All the money raised will go directly to the man and his dog, said Hawkins.

“He can do what he wants with the money,” she added. “I’m sure he’ll use it for good.”

Police say the victim remains in a Halifax hospital in serious condition.

Police say three suspects, 25-year-old Kyle William Nichol, 22-year-old Jennifer MacLeod and a 16-year-old girl, face charges of aggravated assault and wearing a disguise with intent to commit an offence.

Nichol, who is due to appear in court July 31, is also charged with attempted murder.

MacLeod is due in court on Monday for a bail hearing.

Police have issued a Canada-wide arrest warrant for 22-year-old Cory Patrick Blinkhorn of Sydney Mines on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and wearing a disguise while committing an offence.