An online fundraiser that was working to collect funds to build a fence near a poignant memorial in New Glasgow, N.S., has officially surpassed its goal.
Allen Martin recently started a GoFundMe page with a goal of collecting $7,000.
Martin’s brother, Glenn Martin, was one of 26 miners that died during the Westray mine explosion on May 9, 1992, two days before his 36th birthday.
WATCH: The brother of a man killed in the Westray Mining disaster is trying to raise $7,000 to build a fence along one side of a memorial park as a way to stop vandalism.
Martin is one of the caretakers of the Westray Miners Memorial Park. He says the area has had issues over the years with people littering but is now dealing with motorists driving across the lawn of the park, which digs up the sod and causes ruts.
Global News spoke to Martin last week about his fundraising efforts. He said he was hoping to raise $7,000 to help with the cost of constructing a fence along one side of the property to prevent vehicles from driving across the park.
READ: Westray tragedy to be marked, 25 years later: ‘A uniquely Nova Scotian story and tragedy’
As of Thursday afternoon, the fundraiser had raised just over $7,100.
Martin says the successful campaign has convinced him that the memorial still means a great deal to the people of “Pictou County and far beyond”
I urge everyone to take a stance and press their elected officials for better laws to protect Canadian workers and to enforce the laws we have such as The Westray Law. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to come home from work safe, healthy, and in one piece,” he wrote in an email to Global News on Thursday.
Those looking to donate can visit the site by clicking here.
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