By Dominic Abassi

Support pours in for young girl after father dies in crash

Jun 7, 2018 | 4:10 PM

NANAIMO — As friends and family cope with the shock and grief of suddenly losing a loved one, they’re already turning their attention to supporting a young girl left without a father.

Norm Saunders, 34, died on June 3 when his car veered off Hwy. 19 and down an embankment north of Qualicum Beach. Saunders, who called Lantzville home for the last several years, was a single father to eight-year-old Hailey.

“He would just beam when he talked about her, his face would light up. He was just so happy with the fact he had his little girl,” Joe Smith, Saunders’ longtime best friend told NanaimoNewsNOW. “I would say that was one of Norm’s best accomplishments ever, how much he cared for her and tried to make sure she had a good youth.”

Smith said as the initial shock of Saunders’ passing faded, he began thinking immediately of Hailey.

“There’s this eight-year-old little girl who only had her dad and she just lost him. He didn’t have life insurance or anything like that, nothing to fall back on for her. We just wanted to do something to try and ensure she has a fund set up so when it comes time for her to go to university she is able to get a good start to her adult life.”

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Smith’s wife Stephanie started a GoFundMe page designed to raise money for Hailey’s future education. Smith said the money will be held in trust until she turns 18.

The fund raised more than $11,000 in less than two days as of Thursday afternoon.

“I want to see Hailey succeed. We’ve always cared greatly about her, but now I’m a little more invested in her. I want to make sure she has a good future and a good life. That’s what her dad would have wanted and that’s how we’re trying to honour him.”

Many people in Nanaimo are coping with the loss of a man Smith described as “easy going, happy-go-lucky, someone who walked to the beat of his own drum.” Saunders grew up in the city, attending Hammond Bay Elementary and Dover Bay Secondary.

Smith said Hailey will be raised by Saunders’ grandmother.

“You know what they say, it takes a village to raise a child. Norm needed that help and now Hailey needs it more than ever.”

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi