HALIFAX, NS — Boston Bruins hockey player Brad Marchand started a fundraiser to help the family of the 8-year-old victim of the Boston bombings, Martin Richard.
The Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia native says he was deeply affected by the bombings, especially the death of Richard. Upon hearing the boy was a Boston Bruins fan, Marchand decided he’d try to help out, says his mother Lynn Marchand.
“He thought of the suite that he has for the first playoff game which he was going to offer to family and friends and he felt if he could raffle that off perhaps he could raise some money for little martin’s family,” says Marchand.
Brad is popular with Bruins fans and they’ve embraced the idea, she says.
“It raised $100,000 the first day. The other day it was up to $175,000 and Brad thinks it’s up to $200,000 now, so it’s raising a lot of money.”
“He’s just really happy to be able to do something to help out,” she says. “He’s really proud of the city of Boston for showing such great support and helping him with this.”
Lynn Marchard says her son was hurt by Richard’s death because he loves kids.
“Particularly because he’s big kid himself,” she says, “so it gives him the opportunity to bring out the kid in himself when he’s around children. He has a little step son kind of, if you will, with his girlfriend Katrina. Sloan is 3 years old. He adores Brad and Brad adores Sloan.”
The winner of the raffle can bring 13 other people to the suite for the Bruins first home playoff game and can meet Brad after the game.
Raffle tickets can be purchased online for $5 each.
The draw will be made April 29. All money raised will go to Martin Richard’s family.
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