In memory of Aidan

UPDATE AUG 2: we have $670 in private etransfers in addition to the funds collected here on the platform. You guys are amazing!!!!!! Donations will continue to be collected until September 1.

Dear Tansley Pickleball community,

Our pickleball friends Peter & Christian have suffered a tragic and unexpected loss within their family. Peter’s son, Christian’s brother, and our former pickleball fan, Aidan Fontana Bonura, suddenly passed on July 24 at age 17. Details can be found here:

https://www.smithsfh.com/memorials/aidan-bonura/5464934/index.php

and further information about his condition and a potential place for us to donate excess funds, here:

https://muscle.akaraisin.com/ui/WalkRollMDC24/p/d01e9533e2614c57bcfb314a6143becb?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1NUT-kAbP1cFsHkd_CeRqFiyQVy0hRH7H7I1gz40i7CpJagZ_ok0TaLrA_aem_t7l0fuoyqF_roD6hbh8BaQ

Amidst this horrible news, Peter has still been coming to play at Tansley to help cope with his pain. We can tell he is struggling but pickleball has been a healthy and welcomed reprieve for him.

He hasn’t been announcing his loss too widely but some of us received it through a school board notification and felt it might help Peter to have our support. Aidan attended Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School and his mom is a teacher in the HCDSB. Many of us are also part of these communities.

The family likely has support and care, but as a Tansley gesture, this GoFundMe page was a collective idea to gather contributions for a little special pickleball something for Peter and Christian.

We initially wanted to raise funds to buy the boys new paddles engraved with Aidan’s name. Paul Lejkowski has graciously donated 2 Selkirk paddles and we are working with his contact to design labels for the edge guards that say “In memory of Aidan.”

Coach Paul has also suggested an annual tournament in honour of Aidan. Something exciting for us to look forward to!

With so many of you offering to help, and the cost of the paddles now covered, we’d like to proceed with raising funds for something in Aidan’s honour to accompany the paddles. Depending on the amount raised, we can:

Request the city to install a plaque on one of our court benches in Aidan’s honour. NOTE: plaque request deadline is June 30 and installations are “late Fall.” Donating an entirely new bench to the park would start at $5400.

Raise funds for the family to help during this tough time

Raise funds for the family’s charity of choice - MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY CANADA: https://muscle.ca/

The response has already been overwhelming. Our pickleball community is a really special and generous group of people and I know we can help make a difference for Peter and Christian, and possibly their family.

NOTE: this site charges a 2% fee. If you’d prefer to etransfer me, I will add all of the donations together at the end: [email redacted]