A fundraiser has been started for a 2-year-old boy whose parents were shot and killed during a July 4th parade in Highland Park, Illinois. The GoFundMe has now reached over $2.6 million since its creation on Tuesday.
On the day of the massacre, the boy was somehow separated from his parents during the shooting. Dana and Greg Ring told CBS Chicago that he was being looked after by a stranger when they found him. The couple then took the boy and watched over him until the police arrived. A local detective then brought him to the hospital to be checked and reunited him with his grandparents from there.
Irina and Kevin Mcarthy, the parents of young Aiden, were among the seven killed in Highland Park during the shooting. Over 30 people were shot and wounded during the chaos that halted the marching band and sent people running for cover. The wounded ranged in age from 8 to their 80s, according to authorities.
Irina Colon, the organizer for the GoFundMe, heartbroken by the thought of this young boy being orphaned, wanted to help tip the scale of adversity a little in his favor. Therefore, to offset any financial constraints of whomever will be the caregivers of this young boy, she started the GoFundMe. She was reluctant to share his full name, but knew she must in order to get the story out right. The fundraising organizer wrote: “ I am establishing this fundraiser to support him and the caregivers who will be tasked with raising, caring for, and supporting Aiden as he and his support system embark on this unexpected journey.”
“Aiden will be cared for by his loving family and he will have a long road ahead to heal, find stability and ultimately navigate life as an orphan,” she added. “He is surrounded by a community of friends and extended family who will embrace him with love, and any means available to ensure he has everything he needs while he grows.”
She reached out to and received permission from Aiden’s family members to start this fundraising endeavor. The page has currently reached over 48,000 donations and is growing.
