CALGARY- The tragic murders of a five-year-old boy and his grandparents have gripped the city for nearly two months, and now efforts to help the grieving family have expanded beyond Calgary.
Nathan O’Brien and his grandparents Alvin and Kathryn Liknes are believed to have been murdered, and Douglas Garland has since been charged in the case.
On Friday, family friends headed to the Bow Valley to launch fundraising efforts in areas like Canmore, where Kathryn once worked at a daycare.
“This is a horrific tragedy and it should never ever happen to anyone’s family,” said Cherri Hodgins, while putting up posters at that same daycare. “This was a wonderful family that brought joy into so many people’s lives, and they didn’t deserve this.”
Her husband Ken is also trying to raise money to help the family who hasn’t been able to work since Nathan and his grandparents disappeared.
“There’s no roadmap for dealing with something like this,” he says. “None of us know how to act or respond, but I think people’s true character comes through.”
The O’Brien Superheroes Are Real trust fund has been set up in honour of little Nathan, who loved to dress up in costumes like Spiderman.
“We have had so many people come and surround us, people we don’t know ask ‘how can we help?’ And the one message is the kids need some financial support,” Ken Hodgins explains.
Go to any CIBC branch to donate to the fund.
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