The fundraising campaign for the parents of the 6-year-old boy Abdyrahman from Oss, who drowned on Thursday in the recreational lake De Lithse Ham, has now reached 25,000 euros. The goal has thus been achieved. Although the initiator hopes that Brabant will continue to give generously so that the parents can give their son a nice farewell. “There is still a lot coming their way in the near future, so they can use more,” says Mark Martens.
The initiator of the fundraiser is very happy that people are donating so massively. “It went very quickly in two days. It’s great that so many people sympathize with these people. They don’t have much money or stuff and fled to our country. They went from war to war, finally had peace here and then you make this along.”
“With some extra money, they might be able to start a new life.”
With the action, Mark wants to raise money for Abdyrahman’s funeral, which is Monday. “We were at the same puddle on Tuesday evening with our children who are about the same age. The water gets deep there quite quickly and that is quite dangerous. We sympathize with the boy’s family and would like to help them with a nice farewell to their son “says Mark.
The money for the funeral has now been amply received. But the fundraising campaign doesn’t stop there. “There is still a lot to come for those people,” explains Mark. “They have two more children. With some extra money they may be able to build a new life. And somehow make up for the loss.”
The Make a Memory foundation has also informed Martens that it wants to mean something to the parents. That organization takes photos of the deceased child at the request of the family. “The family wanted that. That’s why a photographer will come and record everything, including the funeral.”
“They are grateful that there are people who think of them during this difficult time.”
Abdyrahman and his parents fled from Turkmenistan to Ukraine. Because of the war they fled from that country to the Netherlands. They have only just arrived in the Netherlands and do not yet have a bank account number. “That is why the municipality and some agencies are helping to get the money in the right place,” says Martens.
He has been in contact with the father of the deceased boy via email. “He said they are very happy that a charity campaign has been set up. They are grateful that there are people who think of them during this difficult time.”
Abdyrahman was on Wednesday with his parents at the recreational lake in Lith. There the boy suddenly disappeared while playing. After his disappearance, a major search operation was immediately started with divers from the fire brigade and a police helicopter. The Veteran Search Team also searched the area for the boy. The boy’s family also joined the search.
A little before noon on Thursday, the boy’s body was found in the water of the puddle. According to Mark, the 6-year-old boy was in a language class at the Sterrebos School in Oss.
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