Less than a week after the deaths of two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette and her father, the community of Blairmore, Alta., remains deep in mourning.
On Saturday, grieving residents were joined by nearly 300 motorcyclists, who rumbled into town to pay their respects to the girl and her father, as well as to deliver a donation of thousands of dollars.
To get there, the bikers journeyed through the southern part of the province, beginning at the Twin City Saloon in Longview, Alta., and raising money as they made their way south toward Blairmore.
The ride culminated with a gathering at the Pure Country Saloon, where Dunbar-Blanchette's father, Terry Blanchette, once worked.
By the end of the ride, the bikers had collected more than $9,000, and donations were continuing to come in.
The fundraiser organizers say they plan to use the money to improve the playground at Blairmore Lion's Park, a spot where Blanchette used to take Hailey.
"She loved that park," family friend Tammy Tracey said. "Lion's Park is just a fitting place for it to go."
The bikers who raised the money say they wanted to contribute to a new playground to both honour Dunbar-Blanchette's memory and to help the community heal.
"That's what (we're) trying to achieve is, maybe, to bring back a little smile to the place," rider Danny Balance said. "It's hard times right now and everybody's trying to make it better."
Many of the riders stressed the importance of being part of a community, and offering support in times of need.
"This is kind of what our philosophy is, is to be supporting members of our community. So that's … why we're out here today," Gerald Wentland said.
Other riders, like many Canadians, said they were inspired to participate in the fundraiser because they felt a personal connection to Dunbar-Blanchette.
"We all have kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews," one of the ride's organizers, Troy Carlson, said. "You know, a lot of these riders out here are pretty speechless. It really hits close to home."
An Amber Alert was issued for Dunbar-Blanchette after a family member found her father dead in his home and the young girl missing. The two-year old’s remains were later found a day later in a rural area outside Blairmore. Police have charged Derek Saretzky, 22, with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of committing an indignity to a body in connection with the case.
With files from CTV Calgary
