Victim Services: Resources are available through the VPD Victim Services Unit: 604-717-2737 and VictimLinkBC: call or text 1-800-563-0808, or email 211-victimlinkbc@uwbc.ca or can be found at: Filipino Emergency Response.
A local Filipino organization is organizing a tribute fundraiser in Surrey for the end of May to raise money for those directly impacted by the Lapu Lapu tragedy.
Eleven people were killed – seven women, two men, one non-binary person and a five-year-old girl – and at least two dozen more were injured, ranging in age from 22 months old to 60 years old, when a person drove an SUV through the crowd at the Vancouver festival on Saturday, April 26.
The Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society (SPIDS) will host the tribute fundraiser in Surrey's Civic Plaza (13454 104 Ave) on May 24th from 5 to 8 p.m.
"The LapuLapu tragedy on April 26th has impacted nine Surrey families, eight are Filipino families, six families are with ties to active members of our organization, Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society (SPIDS). We sadly have three fatalities, seven seriously injured (five are all still in hospital), and seven traumatized survivors," organizers said.
SPIDS president Narima Dela Cruz and other members of the organization have been in touch with the families since the tragedy. "Our focus from the get go has been to provide support and assistance to the affected families."
"100 per cent proceeds will be turned over to beneficiaries, and these will be inclusive, not only for Surrey families but all affected, which also includes the organizer of the LapuLapu Festival, Filipino BC’s fundraiser through United Way and Canadian Red Cross," the organizers said.
The Tribute Fundraiser will be a free admission event, but donations are encouraged.
Various non-profits and community organizations are supporting the event including, the Metis Nation British Columbia, Islamic Relief Canada, Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, South Asian Community Hub (SACH), Surrey Food Bank, Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS), Surrey Hospice Society, Times of Canada, Global Peace Alliance BC, Kids Play Foundation, Friends of Pakistan Canada Association, White Rock Muslim Association, Pashtoon Cultural Association of BC, Molana Tariq Hamil Foundation, Muslim Food Bank Community Services, We are One Society, Fraser Valley Neighborhood Association, British Columbia Bereavement Helpline (BCBH), Kabangka Canada -the national association of young Filipino Canadians, and the Canada-wide Filipino Canadian National Congress."
More information about the event will be posted on the SPIDS Facebook event page.
