A young mother who was beaten with a hockey stick while her child was in the car says she’s overwhelmed by the support and positive messages she’s received since the attack last Wednesday.
On a GoFundMe page that had reached $3,315 as of Monday—surpassing its $2,000 goal—Karalie Red Old Man said she can’t find enough words to express her gratitude.
READ MORE: Calgary police search for road rage suspects after young mother beaten with hockey stick
“I would like to thank each and every person for their financial support, for their prayers, positive encouragement, for stopping by to help with items that we need, for the random hugs and well wishes from the community as well as thoughtful get well gifts I have received for my family and for renewing our faith and trust in humanity,” she wrote in a post on Monday.
She thanked her aunt for starting the fundraising campaign as well as the various family members who continue to support her.
Watch below: Police are calling a random road rage attack on a Calgary mom deplorable. The victim shared her terrifying ordeal with Global’s Jill Croteau on Dec. 8.
Red Old Man also shared some of her personal story, explaining she’s in her third year of international indigenous studies at the University of Calgary and her husband was recently laid off.
“He is in his third year of his electrician apprenticeship,” she wrote. “We are all still striving to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves and our family. I, Karalie, currently am still in lots of pain physically, mentally and emotionally–sometimes I still can’t believe this has happened.
“I am trying my best to take it day by day and to talk with my four children about what they [had] seen that fateful day; to remind them that they are safe and I will not let anybody hurt them and I will do all in my power to stop all I am able to.”
Red Old Man was driving a black Dodge Caravan south on 4 Street N.W. near 40 Street N.W. with her nine-year-old daughter in the car, when a BMW tried to pass her at about 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday.
The BMW couldn’t pass her because of oncoming traffic, so proceeded to “aggressively tailgate” the woman until she stopped at the West Mount Pleasant Arena, police said. The BMW allegedly made contact with the back of the Caravan at one point.
READ MORE: Tips to avoid road rage in light of violent Calgary attack
Once stopped at the arena, police said the BMW boxed her in and two men got out of the car.
“The men demanded that the women get out and fight them and when she refused, they used a hockey stick to break her vehicle’s windows,” police alleged in a statement. “The woman, whose child was also inside the vehicle, tried to flee the scene but was stopped when her vehicle hit the BMW. The men then pulled her out of her vehicle and assaulted her, at times using the hockey stick as a weapon.”
Red Old Man said one of the men grabbed her hair and pulled her hair out of the window.
“I couldn’t get my arms out to fight back and he started banging my neck and my face and my mouth on the window,” she told Global’s Jill Croteau in a previous interview. “My daughter was screaming and crying to stop and he still wouldn’t stop.”
Police said the men then drove off in the BMW.
The two suspects are described as in their early 20s with dark brown or black hair and medium builds. Police said one was wearing a light grey/white shirt.
“Please continue to be on the lookout for these two men,” Red Old Man wrote Monday.
“I don’t want them to get away with this and think it is OK or to try again to do this to another woman because she may not be so lucky.”
The BMW is described as a silver two-door with an Alberta licence plate, likely with extensive damage to the front passenger side and front bumper.
“We are still trying to overcome the many obstacles that have landed on our paths and with the generosity of all the people [who] have helped, we can hopefully start that journey towards healing and ultimately the overall well-being of our family in our time of need,” she wrote.
Read the full statement on the GoFundMe page here