B.C. hockey community rallies to support young player who lost both his parents | 24CA News
B.C.’s hockey group is coming collectively to assist a younger Nanaimo man pursuing his desires of going professional after coping with immeasurable loss.
Skyler Cameron, 21, completed his junior profession final spring.
Tragically, close to the top of the season, his mother, Linda, died following a brave battle with breast most cancers.
“When I was younger, she got diagnosed,” Cameron instructed Global News.
“It was a hard fight, But we were always there to support her, and she eventually beat it. And then, I believe my second year into West Kelowna Junior (hockey), it came back. And ever since then, it was just kind of a hard fight. And then ultimately the cancer won, I guess, and she did pass this past May.
“So yeah, it was a tough one.”
A number of weeks later, his father Darryl died from an sudden cardiac occasion.
“I was actually in Vancouver working and I got a call from my brother one day and (he) just said our dad had had a heart attack and passed away,” Cameron stated. “But I guess some could say (it) was from a broken heart.”
Cameron describes his dad and mom as wonderful and supportive of each hockey and his faculty and buddies.
“My mom, every time she walked into a room, she had the brightest smile and can make anyone laugh. And she was just amazing,” he stated.
“My dad’s just supported my career since I was a little kid, always pushing me to get better, always making the trips and tournaments and stuff like that. And, yeah, just being an amazing dad. I miss him every day.”
Cameron stated each dad and mom had been at all times looking for methods to assist him and his profession and his dad was so joyful to listen to he had been accepted to Trinity Western University for subsequent yr and he can be enjoying for them.
After each of them handed away, he stated he wasn’t even positive he wished to play hockey anymore.
But he knew they’d need him to proceed to pursue his dream.
“I mean, if I did have a bad game, (my dad) would always be there to kind of show me what I did wrong, whether it be going over video or something like that, so I could fix it for the next time,” Cameron stated. “So I’m going to miss that. But I know secretly he’s going to send me messages from above.”
He will reside with household in Vancouver for now and stated the outpouring of assist from the hockey group has been fantastic.
“I’ve been blown away,” he stated. “I can’t even put into words how special it was that people have done that for me to continue my dreams and pursue my goals that my parents and I laid out.
“I just can’t thank everyone enough. So yeah, it’s been amazing.”
Kelly Marini, a fellow hockey mother and good friend of his dad and mom, began a GoFundMe to boost cash for the monetary assist Cameron will want.
“Darryl, he supported Skyler. He would drive all the time over from Nanaimo, drive up to Kelowna and watch the games, like, you know, fly all over to watch his kid play,” Marini stated. “Linda, she came to Calgary and watched a few showcases.”
“That was their dream to see Skyler succeed, and go play university and go to a higher level. He’s done very well so far.”
She stated so many within the hockey group reached out wanting to assist Cameron so she determined to start out the GoFundMe.
“Let us help him out because us as parents just recognize how hard that will be for him to move forward without his two main support people.”
“You just notice them rally around,” Marini added, “all his all coaches, teammates, organizations he’s performed for. Everybody has rallied round and I suppose it’s as a result of they simply don’t need that dream to die that Skyler and his mother and pop had.
“It’s been overwhelming.”
Cameron is working two jobs through the summer season to assist elevate cash for his college profession forward however Marini stated she needs to have the ability to take any monetary weight off his shoulders and let him know everyone seems to be there for him.
“So that’s just the goal, to help him get through it, because it’s going to be tough.”
Josh Bonar, former coach on the Burnaby Winter Club Academy and summer season expertise coach, has identified Cameron for about six years.
He stated Cameron’s dad and mom had been very loving and so supportive, particularly as it may be powerful to place a baby via the academy.
“Yeah, it’s sad. Really tragic,” Bonar stated. “It kind of it really hits you in the heart. And I’m super sad. And we’re just here to support Skyler any way we can and try to get him on his feet and pursue his dreams.”
He added that Cameron has quite a lot of potential to play professional hockey in the future.
“He’s always been a really strong kid, and he’s always had that personality and he’s always been very eager to do well and very, very self-driven,” Bonar added. “So he’s doing an unreal job. But it doesn’t surprise me either.”
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