An upcoming fundraiser will honour the legacy of a Clayton teen who inspired many to give.
A day before what would have been Chase De Balinhard’s 16th birthday, his friend’s are gathering to honour the young man and continue Chase’s fundraising tradition.
Amanda Stewart, a friend of Chase’s mom Crystal De Balinhard, said the boys will be selling freezies and raising money for the Terry Fox Foundation outside the Clayton Heights Save-On-Foods June 27. Stewart’s son was also Chase’s best friend.
She said for the past several years Chase would sell freezies and raise money for cancer research.
“Chase passed away in February,” Stewart said. “So, the kids, Chase's friends, are going to continue it this year for him. In honour of Chase and in honour of Terry Fox as well.”
The Cloverdale Reporter documented a freezie fundraiser Chase held when he turned 9 in 2018.
Chase would celebrate his birthday each year by holding a fundraiser in Fox’s memory. A celebration that turned into an annual tradition as June 28 was also the day Chase’s hero lost his battle with cancer.
He and his friends staked claim to a spot outside Clayton’s Save-on-Foods and sold freezies for a buck that year with all money raised going to the Terry Fox Foundation. They raised more than $700 that day.
Stewart said Chase’s friends are keen to keep both his memory alive and his spirit of giving.
“Chase was a great kid. He was really sweet,” she said. “He was really passionate about Terry Fox and took a massive interest in him.”
She said the kids are hoping they can raise a lot of money in memory of Chase and to help with cancer research.
“We want to keep the memory of Chase alive too,” added Stewart. “We miss him. A lot.”
She added Chase’s tragic death still has more questions than answers more than four months later.
Chase was killed in a police incident in Clayton Heights Feb. 9 after police responded to a report of a person with a weapon at a school in the 7000-block of 188th Street.
An interaction between the teen and the police reportedly happened further away, near the intersection of 70th Avenue and 185th Street, "during which shots were fired by police," noted an Independent Investigations Office of B.C. release at the time.
Chase died at the scene.
“It’s horrible,” Stewart said. “We still have no information at all. It’s been pretty tough for his parents.”
The fundraiser will take place on Friday, June 27, from 3 - 6 p.m. at the Save-On-Foods in Clayton Heights (18710 Fraser Highway).
— With files from Tricia Leslie.
