An Ontario cadet is honouring the life of fallen comrade, Cochranite Lamont Murphy, with a fundraiser to help soldiers living with mental and physical injuries.
“It’s an honour to do this after hearing everything about him. He was taken from us when he was 18, but he made such an impact on people’s lives,” said Jerod Martin, the army cadet who heads the Facebook page ‘Cadets of the World.’
“From what I’ve heard, he was willing to help anybody who needed it. Whether it be friends, family, cadets – it didn’t matter. If he could be there, he would.”
The goal is to raise $2,500 for Soldier On, an organization that helps current and former service members living with physical injuries, PTSD and other life-altering circumstances. As of press time, they’ve raised $410.
Martin had seen a posting about Murphy from another cadet in Alberta and felt compelled to act.
“It really is a big family. Even though I never got the chance to meet Lamont, it almost felt like I did know him, just from him being a cadet.”
Martin then reached out to Murphy’s aunt and was put in touch with his mother when he told them of the idea for a drive.
Murphy’s mother, Kari, said she was floored.
“It was an overwhelming flood of gratitude. My son would be so humbled and embarrassed if he knew any of this.”
For Kari, it reaffirmed the sense of belonging Lamont felt during his time in cadets.
“That was a place where my son was equal. There was no bullying or racism or any of that.”
Kari recounted that Lamont had aspirations to make a career in the Canadian Forces and was undergoing the application process.
“This is why this fundraiser is so perfect, because for the last seven years, that’s what I’ve heard my son talk about, was joining the forces.”
Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/3e2t483g. Messages of condolences can be made on the Facebook page “Remembering Lamont Murphy” or the website www.ripcwomurphy.weebly.com.
