11 a.m. Sept. 17:
The memorial fund started yesterday has topped $25,000.
“When I first started up the fund I was hoping to reach a goal of $10,000 dollars,” Brady Dyer told the Advance this morning. “Within minutes of putting it on Facebook, the fund starting growing at an alarming speed and I think the goal was reached within a couple of hours.”
She ultimately upped the goal to $30,000, with 191 donors giving a total of $25,525 by late morning.
“I am blown away at the support from this community,” said Dyer. “It makes me feel so relieved for Lyndi that she will not have the burden of financial stress in the upcoming months while she’s experiencing devastating grief.”
5 p.m. Sept. 16:
A memorial fund for the family of a worker who died in an accident yesterday at J.H. Huscroft Ltd. sawmill has raised over $8,200.
Creston resident and business owner Brandy Dyer started the fund this afternoon to help the wife and two children of Dustin Gerlinsky. Hunt was widowed with two young children nine years ago.
“I know that Lyndi and her children will experience an out pouring of love from friends and family, which is amazing, but I would like to reach out and help in the most helpful way I know how, speaking from my own experience… money,” Dyer said on the www.gofundme.com page.
The initial goal was $10,000, but she upped that to $20,000 when the campaign proved successful, reaching nearly $8,300 after five hours.
Dyer wants the funds to help with funeral expenses, loss of work income and keep up financially as a single parent.
“She will be experiencing unbelievable and unfathomable grief and the last thing she needs is the stress of money,” said Dyer. “No one can begin to imagine the weight that has been placed on her both emotionally and financially. She needs our support.”
Creston RCMP have confirmed that there was an accidental death, but have not yet released any other information. Calls to the BC Coroners Service have not yet been returned.
