Fundraiser launched for the family of a Burnaby Firefighter and former NHL player after sudden death – BC | 24CA News
A GoFundMe has been arrange for the household of 38-year-old Raymond Sawada after the Burnaby firefighter and former NHL participant died immediately whereas enjoying hockey Monday night.
According to the put up, Sawada is survived by his spouse Nicole and his two daughters Victoria (9) and Charlotte (6).
“For the girls and Nicole, losing their dad and husband is going to leave a sad mark on their hearts and make for a long road ahead,” organizer Brianne Sameshima wrote within the put up.
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Sawada was raised in Richmond and performed at Cornell University earlier than getting signed to a two-year cope with the Dallas Stars.
Before reaching the apex of the hockey world, Sawada first performed within the Pacific Junior Hockey League with the Richmond Sockeyes.
Richmond Sockeyes President Doug Patterson says it was a traumatic blow to the Richmond group when news of Sawada’s dying broke.
“It was his oldest daughter’s birthday yesterday,” he advised Global News.
“He’s celebrating her birthday, then going off to hockey and poor fella doesn’t return home to his family. It’s just devastating and it’s just been really tough on all of us.”
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Patterson says he’s identified Sawada for a few years, including he and his spouse’s households have an extended historical past in Richmond.
“Nicole’s family, the Sawada family are both longtime Richmond families,” Patterson added.
“When this something like this happens, it just it really just rocks the community.”
The GoFundMe web page has a purpose or elevating $50,000 however inside hours over $168,000 was raised for Sawada’s household.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
