The second annual Nathan O’Brien Superhero Sports Decathlon is in memory of a Calgary boy whose life was cut short.
In June of 2014, five-year-old Nathan and his grandparents disappeared, triggering the longest Amber Alert in Canadian history. While their bodies were never recovered, police believe all three were killed.
Douglas Garland, a distant relative of the grandfather's through marriage, was charged with three counts of first degree murder.
Since this tragedy, Nathan’s parents have created a foundation in their son's name, donating tens of thousands of dollars to local charities.
“For us as parents, it's just one additional thing we get to do, something we get to do in Nathan's spirit,” said Rod O’Brien, Nathan’s father. “It helps.”
Nathan’s parents say the weekend event is to celebrate all the things he loved.
“Nathan played many sports, he played soccer, he played hockey, he recently took up golf which was pretty fun, and he just really, really liked to have fun in sports, and we thought that was really important,” said Jennifer O’Brien, Nathan’s mother. “We just hope we can help other kids experience what Nathan experienced.”
The event for kids between the ages of six and 13 will feature coaching for kids in sports such as golf, Aussie rules football and hockey. There will also be a dinner and silent auction on Friday night with proceeds going to Kidzfirst, a charity that helps subsidize sports for children. Local celebrities will be there, including current Calgary Flames and alumni. People can also bring donations for Stephen’s Backpacks, a charity that gathers school supplies for homeless children.
Last year, the event was a hit and had some positive consequences.
“The kids seemed to have a great time, lots of smiles,” said Rod. “25 percent of them did end up registering for baseball which they had never played before.”
For more information, you can check out kidzfirst.ca.
