GoFundMe Created For Funeral Costs of Man Found In Jackson's Park

A GoFundMe has been set up for the funeral costs of 32-year-old Peterborough man Donnie Thibault whose body was found in Jackson Park on Wednesday morning.

Thibault was born in Moncton, N.B. He leaves behind his five-year-old son Ryder (right). Photo courtesy of Annie Thibault.

The fundraiser was started by his five-year-old son’s mother, Jamie Fee, seeking $5,000 on Wednesday.

His sister, Annie Thibault said he was always around to protect and care for the ones he loved.

“My brother was my best friend,” she said. “He was always there for me when I needed him; loyal and protective. He will forever be my guardian angel.”

Thibault’s friends saw from him a positive and funny personality who was always smiling.

“Donnie was the type of friend who could always make you laugh,” said Maria Caravaggio. “Once he had you in his life, you knew he would do anything for you if you needed him. He loved people with an intense passion and he always tried to be a light in people's lives.”

“Donnie was my neighbour and became a close friend during high school. We just clicked. He was always a stand-up guy, always joking around and pranking his sisters,” said Alyshia Harvey. “He went out of his way to make you laugh and cheer you up. He always had your back.”

Ryder was born on July 14, 2016. Photo courtesy of Annie Thibault.

Peterborough Police found Thibault’s body after receiving a call at roughly 10:45 a.m. Wednesday morning. Officers were called to the area about a man with vital signs absent in a pond in the area of Fairbairn Avenue and Parkhill Road according to a press release.

Donnie went to high school at Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School and recently celebrated his 32nd birthday on Dec. 29 last year.

His funeral is scheduled to be at Nisbett Funeral Home according to Annie however a date has not yet been set.

Donations to the family can be made through the GoFundMe page or through e-transfer at Annie’s email of anniethibault317@msn.com.

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Local Man Completes Hiking the Bruce Trail End to End and is Now Raising Funds for Two Local Charities

After hiking the Bruce Trail in its entirety, local man Jackson Parlevliet is raising money for HeadsupCAN and the Youth Emergency Shelter.

Jackson Parlevliet after completing the Bruce Trail. Photo courtesy of Jackson Parlevliet.

Parlevliet began hiking Canada's oldest and longest marked footpath that stretches 900 km from Niagara to Tobermory on Aug. 11 when he realized his mental and physical health were declining.

“I started doing the hike because I was feeling very depressed,” he said.

After hitting his head at work a few years ago and enduring a severe concussion and brain damage, he was struggling with his mental health.

“I wanted to do something healthy to get me on track. At the beginning it was really really hard, I couldn’t go very far and I was just feeling so out of shape. I stuck with it and kept going until it started to get easy, then it got hard again towards the end because I was just really tired.”

Over the course of the 58 day hike Jackson lost 30 lbs and found a love for hiking. Photo by Jackson Parlevliet.

“I just thought so much. There were certain days I just would be in the woods by myself and start crying,” he said. “But I genuinely feel like a different person now.”

Initially this hike was only meant to better Parlevliet’s health, though as he walked alone he began to think there was potential for something more.

After he completed the trail end-to-end on Nov. 8, 58 days after starting, Parlevliet created a GoFundMe.

50 per cent of all the money raised will be going to HeadsupCAN, a local charity that aims to help those suffering from post-concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) symptoms.

“I picked HeadsUP because it’s personal to me. I’ve been struggling with concussion related brain trauma since I was in high school, and also because I trust where the money is going. The founder Ryan Sutton is from Ennismore.”

The other 50 per cent will be going to the Youth Emergency Shelter.

“I wanted to do something nice at Christmas - I love Christmas. Gifts aren’t what Christmas is about to me, but I still think that kids should be able to have some gifts and have some food and feel like they’re loved at Christmas.”

According to the Bruce Trail website, the trail can be hiked one way in 30 days. Jackson completed his hike (end-to-end and back again) in 58 days. Photo by Jackson Parlevliet.

Parlevliet says it was a tough trek,hiking around 40 km a day, and there were many times he wanted to quit. Now that it’s done he hopes to hike more in the future.

“I’ve wanted to do this Bruce Trail thing for a while. I started thinking about the idea in 2015 or 2015. I didn’t really know anything about it. If you have anything you want to do, just do it. Just make it happen.”

He says he hopes anyone interested in hiking the Bruce Trail will reach out to him on Instagram with any questions.

“I didn’t have fancy gear, I didn’t have poles, I didn’t have good shit - I just did it. It was really uncomfortable at times it rained for like 15 days straight, my feet were soaking, it was really miserable but I made it through and then got to good weather. If there’s anything you want to do, don’t wait for other people - just make it happen. I’m so glad I did it. There were times I thought ‘I can’t do this anymore I want to quit’ but I just kept going and it felt so good to be done.”

To donate to the Bruce Trail End to End Charity Hike click here.

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One Hairy Fundraiser to Donate to Three Local Organizations

Local entrepreneur, Husayn Dharshi, is organizing ‘One Hairy Fundraiser’ for three local initiatives and has pledged to offer his long hair to an organization that may need it once he reaches his goal of $1,500.

Funds donated to ‘One Hairy Fundraiser’ will be evenly split between Kawartha FoodShare, Peterborough's Safe Consumption and Treatment Site and The Home Program under One City Peterborough.

When he reaches his $1,500 goal Dharshi will cut his long hair and donate it to a charity that will put it to use. He has not yet decided which charity.

“The focus of this campaign is to raise awareness of all the great organizations that are doing so much in the community right now,” said Dharshi. “They fit into the brackets of people living with food insecurity, underhoused people and people with mental health challenges and addictions - which are things we need so much more support for.”

Dharshi is a local website and web application developer, and the Founder of TransitOne Canada, a local start up dedicated to creating better access to local communities through better transit. When the COVID-19 pandemic began his business took a hit, and he found himself in need of work.

He began working full-time as a social services worker at One Roof Community Centre, where he has been volunteering since 2018.

“They have been so gracious with me and so kind to me, this is just a small token of my gratitude to them,” said Dharshi.

To donate to One Hairy Fundraiser click here.

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Local Boy And Grandpa Hit The Trails After Fundraiser Goal Met

Hudson Wells, 10, and his grandfather Doug Fudge towed along the snowmobile trails in Lake St. Peter after a GoFundMe of $5,000 afforded them a sled on Friday afternoon.

Wells suffered from encephalitis since he was 13 months old that caused his physical disabilities. The sled would cater to his limitations while Fudge towed him with a snowmobile.

Brian Denena of Orillia, Ont. started the fundraiser on Feb. 11 where the goal was met in less than 24 hours. The community’s generosity was overwhelming for Fudge and his family.

“Just the overwhelming support was unbelievable,” said Fudge. “It was a dream come true. I never would have for it without the help of everyone.”

Hudson Wells excited to ride his sled for the first time. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Wells

Both of them rode the trails for an hour. The experience for Fudge was surreal and said it was mutual for Wells.

“He was over the moon,” said Fudge. “I don’t know how to explain it. It was so emotional.”

Hudson Wells (left) was limited to short rides in the driveway before obtaining his new sled. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Wells

The sled was purchased from Kijiji in Ottawa. Fudge drove there last weekend to pick up the sled. Fudge originally intended to purchase a used sled and fix it up himself.

”I had people offering to build me one (sled),” said Fudge. “I might have had 20 sleds of all types and sizes donated to me if I wanted to. In my wildest dreams, I never thought that this would happen.”

Hudson Wells typically gets to visit his grandfather two to three times a week. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Wells

Fudge will add wheels to the sled so Wells can enjoy it during the warmer months. The grandfather owns 220 acres of property and will use an ATV to tow the sled.

"Nothing compares to the sound of you child’s laughter and their happiness,” said Stephanie Wells, Hudson’s mother.

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Help A Peterborough Woman's Little Brother With His Spinal Surgery Fund

Sean is an 11-year-old who was born with a severe chromosome disorder, as well as autism...

Sean

Sean has gone through countless surgeries and procedures each year of his life to help his health. He is currently recovering at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto from his latest and most serious surgical procedure—unteathering his spinal cords.

Despite his serious condition, Sean remains positive—full of strength and hope.

His older sister Jordan Slavik—who lives in Peterborough and is married to friend of PTBOCanada Brandon Slavik—is trying to get the word out about a GoFundMe campaign that has been started to help with the expensive cost of Sean's home care in Newmarket that will be needed for months after he gets home from the hospital.

My wife's lil bro had spinal surgery yesterday & we're looking for help going on-http://t.co/VBtRkwVwDR Your help is beyond appreciated!

— Brandon Slavik (@slavikPTBO) May 16, 2015

The money raised will go towards assisting with hospital bills, medication costs, and nurses that will be required nearly around the clock when Sean returns home.

Spread the word on your social media channels, and give what you can here. The campaign is attempting to raise $5,000, and almost $1,000 has been raised so far.

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