When they’re not catching bad guys, Burnaby Mounties are busy doing a lot of good in the community. And Christmastime is no different.
For the fifth year, the detachment collected hundreds of toys for B.C. Children’s Hospital as part of Keian’s Holiday Wish Toy Drive.
It’s a Christmas legacy started by Keian Blundell.
Keian passed away three years ago on Jan. 1, 2014, after battling cancer.
He was just five years old when he organized his fist toy drive in 2012. He was able to make it home for Christmas and felt bad for the other children who had to spend their holidays in the hospital.
Just a few months before he passed away, he was made an honorary member of Troop 15 and presented with a custom-made red serge.
In the first year, Keian collected 16 toys. This year, 264 toys were collected, primarily from within the Burnaby detachment.
“Overall it’s been a pretty good year for the toy drive,” RCMP Const. Sam Bowen told theNOW prior to dropping off the toys at the hospital before Christmas.
In the last couple years, the Burnaby cop has led the effort at the detachment.
Bowen said he has a daughter, and while she’s never needed the hospital, he said he witnessed the effect Kiean’s battle with cancer had on the boy’s parents and how difficult it can be to have a sick child.
“If there’s anything anyone can do to bring even the smallest glimmer of happiness to families, friends, and children at a time like that, it’s the least we can do,” he said, adding the RCMP’s efforts are all done in Kieans’s memory.
While Bowen hasn’t been at the hospital when the gifts are open, he’s pretty confident it means a lot to the kids.
“It helps to ease the trouble that they’re having to stay in the hospital,” he said. “So it help bring a little bit of home to the hospital.”
Since 2012, more than 3,000 toys have been donated to both BC Children’s Hospital and Canuck Place Children’s Hospice for Keian’s Holiday Wish Toy Drive.
