The family of the 14-year-old who was injured in a hit-and-run outside of the B.C. Halal Food Festival on June 22 has set up an online fundraiser to help cover medical costs.
Shortly after 10 p.m. on Sunday (June 22), Surrey Police Service front-line officers were called to a report of a hit-and-run collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian at the intersection of Old Yale Road and Mall Access, between Holland Park and Central City Mall, an SPS release said.
Officers arrived to find a 14-year-old boy had been struck by a vehicle that had fled the scene; the teen was transported to hospital by BC Emergency Health Services with non-life-threatening injuries.
The teen, whom GoFundMe identifies as Abdirahman, had moved to Canada from Somalia last year with the hopes of "finding safety and stability after escaping the war."
"For the first time in his life, he was beginning to experience peace, laughing blissfully, learning, and feeling safe," Ifrah, Abdirahman's cousin, said on the GoFundMe.
"On June 22, 2025, Abdirahman was excited to attend the B.C. Halal Food Festival, his first-ever festival. But while crossing the street using the pedestrian crosswalk outside Holland Park, he was struck by an impaired driver," Ifrah said. "He suffered a concussion, brain injury, a fractured pelvis, and a broken hand. He’s also been dealing with confusion and trauma from the impact."
"Because English isn’t his first language, family members have been helping translate and supporting him daily, often missing work to do so. This has placed a heavy financial strain on a family still adjusting to life in Canada."
Any funds raised will be used to cover lost income, medical expenses such as rehab, transportation and take some financial stress off the family so they can be by Abdirahman's side.
Organizers of the BC Halal Food Festival stated in a post on Instagram, "Salaam Events and the community were very concerned for his well-being and we’re all happy to see him recovering. Though he’s expected to recover, his healing will need ongoing physical therapy and care."
-With files from Tricia Leslie
