People whose hearts were touched by the death of a three-year-old Toronto boy who wandered out into the cold wearing just a diaper, T-shirt and boots are helping to cover the costs of his funeral.
An online crowdfunding campaign had raised $14,712 as of 7 a.m., with 487 people contributing. By Friday afternoon, the site reported 3,110 contributors had pledged $111,668.
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Justin Kozuch set up the fundraiser on Tilt.com hoping to raise $10,000 to help the family of Elijah Marsh, who died in hospital.
"When I'd heard about the unfortunate outcome of his disappearance, it was devastating and heartbreaking. Like many Torontonians, everybody was hoping that he would pull through," Kozuch told CTV News Channel on Friday morning.
Kozuch said the story touched him, because his own three-year-old son recently figured out how to unlock and open the doors in his apartment. Kozuch also has a nine-year-old daughter.
"As a parent we go to the ends of the Earth to protect our children," Kozuch told The Canadian Press. "For me, it was absolutely heartbreaking."
Kozuch called the response to the crowdfunding campaign "unbelievable," and said he plans to meet with Elijah's family soon. But he isn't sure what he will say to them when he turns over the money that was raised.
"I can't imagine what they're going through," he told The Canadian Press.
A Tilt.com spokesperson told CTVNews.ca that the company has waived all credit card fees to support this cause, meaning all money spent will go directly to the family.
People left flowers and stuffed animals in front of the apartment building where Marsh was last seen alive.
"He was the sweetest boy, he was the smartest boy. He loved his mom so much," family friend Lenore Butcher told CTV News.
"He touched everyone. He was just a light and we're going to miss him very much."
And on the Tilt.com fundraising page, some people shared their thoughts after making a donation.
"Thank you for doing this Justin (Kozuch), I was really choked up about this tragedy and can't even imagine what the family is going through," said Rachelle Deschaies.
"My heart bleeds for the family of Elijah. Rest in peace little angel," said Lana Zilyuk.
Mike Colle, who is the MPP in the area, told The Canadian Press that he has contacted the local school trustee about having a nearby daycare renamed after the boy.
"We can grieve, we can help with the funeral, we can do all this, but at least let's try and make a bit of a positive thing out of here," Colle said.
Marsh was discovered missing from his grandmother's apartment in Toronto's North York neighbourhood at 7:30 a.m., but when police reviewed security camera footage, they saw he left the building some three hours earlier.
Marsh was seen walking out of the apartment lobby, alone and wearing only a T-shirt, diaper and boots, at 4:05 a.m. When the three-year-old left the building, it was -17 C in Toronto, but felt like -28 with the wind chill.
His exact actions are unknown, but he was found curled up behind an air conditioning unit outside a home approximately 300 metres away at 10:15 a.m. It was -19 C, and felt like -30.
He was found without vital signs by volunteers, closely followed by Toronto police officers. A witness told CTV Toronto that police were crying as they carried the boy to a waiting ambulance.
Where 3-year-old Elijah was found
Marsh was transported to a nearby hospital in life-threatening condition, and police confirmed he'd succumbed to his injuries at 2 p.m.
Memorial outside the home where Elijah was found
Memorial on Neptune drive where Elijah wandered from
Community came together in the search for Elijah
Toronto police lead a huge search effort
Peel Regional Police joined in the search
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair called it a 'tragic set of circumstances'
With files from The Canadian Press
