Seven-year-old Tessa Fontayne helps co-organizer Trish Drought gather bottles during Saturday’s fundraiser at the Oliver recycling centre. The little girl and her mother, Maggie, came from Osoyoos to help.
Erin Christie photo
It’s been nearly three weeks since Cody O’Connor passed away but Oliver has not forgotten him. Instead, residents have continued to rally around the young boy’s family.
The eight-year-old boy succumbed to severe injuries two weeks after he was rescued from his family’s burning motorhome in Centennial RV Park on August 28.
Cody’s parents, Amanda O’Connor and Ramsey De Prez made the difficult decision to take their son off life support at Canuck Place Children’s Hospice after learning that he had sustained severe brain damage and would have no quality of life.
Prior to being placed on life support, Cody underwent three lung operations, including one to remove glass particles in his lungs.
In the meantime, the O’Connors have been struggling to make ends meet. Not only did they lose their son in the fire, but their motorhome as well. The home was not insured.
To offset funeral costs, and help the family get back on their feet, an online trust was launched in Cody’s name.
To date, more than $5,000 has been donated.
Jo Tanner said she is touched by the amount of support for her friend Amanda, but not surprised.
“When you live in a small community, you become like family and families help each other out.”
Tanner and her friend Trish Drought, who also taught Cody at Oliver Elementary School, recently organized a bottle drive to aid with the efforts.
The drive, which was held at the Oliver recycling centre on September 28, brought in $1,507.12 for the O’Connors.
Tanner said the event was well represented and received a lot of support from local businesses and community organizations including Oliver Rental Centre, Buy-Low, SuperValu, OK Photo and the Church of Latter Day Saints in Osoyoos.
Among those in attendance on Saturday were Cody’s friends, Shelby and Kevin Smith-Tanner, Enola and Michaela Mills, and newly crowned youth Ambassadors Kelsey Launier and Caleb Gagnier.
If you wish to donate to the O’Connor family you can do so by visiting http://www.sharespring.ca/campaigns/cody-o-conner-support-fund
Erin Christie
Oliver Chronicle
