When two young siblings heard the North Shore Rescue had life-saving equipment stolen and damaged this past summer, they decided they had to do something about it.
Scott Baillie, 8, and his sister Annie, 6, donated almost $200 of their birthday and allowance savings to help the rescue team recoup some of their losses to replace and repair the damaged caches.
"You know how people stole all their stuff? I just wanted to give some money so they get some new stuff," Scott told the North Shore News, adding it was important to him
and his sister that the team uses the money for new equipment.
Their mother Karen Baillie said the two thought it was a good opportunity to donate the money to the team after reading about what happened to them in the North Shore News.
"This is our third year doing a five-and-five party," she said. "Five dollars goes to the birthday person and it goes towards them buying a bigger present, and then another $5 goes towards a charity of their choice."
Baillie noted it's important the rescue team keeps the areas her active and outdoorsy son likes to frequent safe.
"I just want to say how proud I am for them to be so willing to help out others and contribute their money and their allowance for this," she added.
From mid-June to mid-July, North Shore Rescue caches of emergency lifesaving gear were ransacked and vandalized four times.
The Norvan Falls cache was broken into twice. The second time the team was volunteering at the Kneeknacker Race when they were made aware of the break-in.
The Hanes Valley and Lynn Lake caches were also hit. The culprits still haven't been caught.
The cost of replacing or repairing the equipment was estimated at $25,000.
Mike Danks, North Shore Rescue team leader, said when he found out that Annie and Scott were going to donate for that cause, he was genuinely touched.
"It's such a unique thing and really shows how engaged the community is," he said. "It's amazing for us that these young children are thinking about the search and rescue team. It's incredible."
The children presented the team with their donation on Saturday.
