MAIN PHOTO: Nolan Boyd of Fall River has created a fundraiser to help with suicide prevention. (Rapids photo)
GRAND FALLS, N.B.: Every save that Nolan Boyd makes for his Grand Falls Rapids is a big save. But now, the saves he makes for the remainder of the hockey season will mean a lot more.
That’s because Boyd has started a fundraiser through his on-ice performance and GoFundMe helping raise money for the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP). CASP is a suicide prevention charity that helps individuals reach the help and care they need.
In hopes of raising as much as he can, Boyd—from Fall River—has decided that with every save he makes for the remainder of the Rapids Maritime Junior A Hockey League regular season he will be donating $1 dollar to CASP. At the end of the regular season, Boyd and the Rapids will match the amount of money he has been able to raise.
Reached in Grand Falls, N.B., where the team can practice but not yet return to play due to being in the Orange level, Boyd spoke about why he wanted to step up and do the fundraiser. N.B. has moved the area to Yellow, so the team will resume play this coming week.
“I had a lot of time to sit down and do some research during the time we were in lockdown here for the past two months,” said Boyd. “I always wanted to do something like this and raise money and make a difference with a mental health initiative or suicide prevention.
The goal was to raise $2,500, said Boyd.
As of March 7, the GoFundMe page has raised $2,616, with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs being the top donor donating $500.
He said two incidents—one in Fredericton where a 16-year-old girl took her own life and the death of a former LHS student and friend by suicide in the summertime—hit close to his heart so he reached out to his Rapids coach to see what he could do to help out.
“We thought this would be a good way tor ally around this in hopes that we can raise money for suicide prevention,” he said. “It’s so important nowadays if someone is in a critical crisis and they can’t see the end of the tunnel, I want to be able to pitch in and do whatever I can to help the foundations run and be successful.”
The past year has taken a mental toll on everyone, and people need the support and resources, said Boyd.
“We all deserve to be happy and appreciative of the life we have,” he said.
Boyd said his initiative is something different, and not just aimed at hockey fans.
“It’s a good way for not only hockey fans, but other people to see the challenges I’ve taken on,” said Boyd. “I want to make as many saves as possible, and I want to do that regardless of if I’m doing this fundraiser. I think this is going to give me that extra boost going into games.
“At the end of the day, I’m fighting for lives. I just want to do it for them.”