It takes a village to raise a child, but no one is prepared when the village loses the child.
On May 22, 2011, 12-year-old Redwood Meadows resident Will Bouchard died in a scooter bike accident.
To honour their son’s memory, Will’s parents Joni and Murray Bouchard are hosting the second annual Ride for Will bike ride fundraiser June 15 at the Redwood Meadows Sports Field and Redwood House.
The Ride for Will event starts at 3 p.m. with 10 km and 20 km bike rides followed by prizes and refreshments.
Festivities after the race begin at 5 p.m. with a barbecue, silent auction, raffle and music.
Will’s father, Murray, said his son was a popular boy with a large circle of friends, and the Ride for Will connects people in the community and helps them remember his son and deal with their grief.
“Will was kind and his friends were important to him,” he said. “This boy affected so many people and families.”
Joni said her favourite quote, “sometimes, when one person is missing, the whole world seems empty,” explains how her community feels about Will’s death.
“It takes a village to raise a child,” she said. “Not only did we lose a child but our village lost a child as well.”
The Ride for Will represents her son because he found freedom by riding his bike, much like other children in the community, according to Joni.
“He was 12 and he loved riding his bike because it was a right of passage and it represented freedom,” she said. “His bike was a really significant part of his life.
“That’s why we have the Ride for Will, as it sums up every 12 year old that lives out here.”
Joni said she and her husband learned through their parental grief support group when parents lose a child they are encouraged to set up some kind of legacy to help deal with their grief.
The Bouchards established The Will Bouchard Memorial Foundation to fundraise for grief support programs to help families who have lost a loved one, and charities helping children aged 11 to 15 years old, such as KidSport Alberta, Dare to Care and Big Brothers and Sisters.
“The foundation is Will’s legacy,” said Joni. “It is our endeavour to honour Will through his foundation.”
The Bouchard family shared a love of sports, and Will’s older brothers Ben, 19, who freestyle skis, and Justin, 24, who snowboards, mentored their little brother.
“He adored his brothers,” said Joni. “They were his heroes.”
While sports were a big part of Will’s life, he also excelled in school, with his positive attitude and mentoring skills.
Will was a free spirit, fun loving, had a contagious giggle and loved spending time with his family.
“He had this sense and knew when you were sad,” said Joni. Funds raised at The Ride for Will event will be donated to the Alberta Children’s Hospital, Alberta Family Grief Support Programs, STARS Air Ambulance and Banded Peak School.
The second annual Ride for Will is June 15 and registration is now open at planetreg.com.
To volunteer for the Ride for Will please contact Mary Starnino at [email protected] or Joni Bouchard at [email protected].
