UPDATE: The Humboldt Broncos GoFundMe campaign has collected more than $8.5 million as of Wednesday afternoon.
A GoFundMe Page page created by a Humboldt, Sask. resident just hours after the tragic Broncos bus crash has raised more than $7.2 million, after taking less than 24 hours to cross the $1 million mark.
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“They are such an integral part of our community. They go to our daughter’s school and work with the kids there,” GoFundMe organizer Sylvie Kellington told CKNW. “I work at a hair salon in town and they’re always in our shop getting their hair done. They’re all over in the community being helpful.”
Kellington says the money will go directly to the Broncos for travel expenses and funeral costs, adding the team can decide where the funds are most needed.
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Kellington says while she’s not directly related to any of the players, she started the GoFundMe to give back to the team that has done so much for the community.
“We’re a small community here and this is just a huge hit. We’re going to be affected for a very long time.”
Kellington says she’s overwhelmed with how much money has been raised in such a short time and says every penny will be going directly to the Broncos.
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The fundraiser has quickly become one of the top campaigns in history.
The fundraiser was initially set for $10,000 but within 24 hours, it had raised more than $1 million. By Monday afternoon it had reached $6 million.
READ MORE: GoFundMe for Humboldt Broncos 1 of top 5 largest campaigns across the globe
GoFundMe CEO Rob Solomon says the campaign is now the largest to date in Canada, followed by the fundraising efforts for the Fort McMurray fires, which raised just over $1 million.