Ryan Fletcher died while snowboarding at Big White Resort.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK
March 26, 2022 - 3:38 PM
More than $17,000 has been donated to the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue who helped recover the body of a snowboarder at Big White last year.
In December 2021, Ryan Fletcher died in a snowboarding accident in the Big White Mountain Ecological Reserve.
Today, March 26, his friends and family donated more than $17,000 to the rescue group that was raised through a GoFundMe as a way to thank the team for finding Fletcher.
COSAR was tasked with the search and subsequent recovery of Fletcher on Dec. 26-27, 2021. The operation included members from the Big White Ski Patrol, Penticton SAR, Vernon SAR and a helicopter from North Shore Rescue with night vision capabilities.
"We are extremely grateful to all of the organizations and individuals that contributed to finding Ryan. Raising funds to support COSAR felt like the best way to express our thanks to a wonderful organization that provides rescue efforts when the worst-case scenario occurs,” said Fletcher's lifelong friend John Barker, who organized the fundraiser along with wife Sonya Barker and friend Katy Drago, in a press release issued by COSAR.
Search manager Duane Tresnich, who co-ordinated the complex search and recovery, accepted the cheque on behalf of the volunteer rescue group.
“We are extremely grateful for the donation,” he said in a press release from the group.
The money will be used for training new COSAR members and for a new search and rescue building.
Emma Drago, left, makes a donation to COSAR Search Manager Duane Tresnich in the name of Ryan Fletcher. Fletcher’s family and friends were on hand Saturday to honour their friend and thank COSAR.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/COSAR
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