Friends and neighbours are reaching out to help the family of Elena Cernicka, the North Vancouver woman who died in a fall while mountaineering on Joffre Peak Jan. 11.
Cernicka leaves behind her husband Tomas and their two sons.
Brenden Torrell and his girlfriend Allisha Matthews, who live next door and have a daughter close in age to the Cernickas’ eldest, have launched a crowdfunding campaign aimed at offering some financial support to the young family in mourning.
“I just was heartbroken, myself,” Torrell said. “I just couldn’t believe and immediately just wanted to know what is the way that we can help.”
The campaign, which can be found at YouCaring.com (click here) by searching the name Cernicka, allows visitors to make a donation and leave a message of condolence.
There aren’t usually words that can assuage someone’s grief but the donations should at least relieve some financial stress, Torrell said.
Because their kids were close to the same age, Torrell would often see Elena with her sons in the park or on Grouse Mountain for skiing or hiking. She was a great woman and a great neighbour, he said.
“She was just a super nice lady. Very happy and always smiling. Great with her kids. Always taking her kids out to ride their bikes or do something active because they were very outdoorsy people,” he said. “Loved to explore. Loved the adventure.”
Elena’s former employer Providence Health Care also issued a statement offering condolences to her family and stating that Providence staff were deeply saddened.
Torrell and Matthews set a fundraising goal of $5,000, which they hit in less than 24 hours. By Thursday, they moved the goal to $10,000.
“You want to help people in this world and it’s a tough time,” Torrell said. “I’d really love to see how far we can take this thing. Let’s see what we can do to help.”
