Raising money in memory of Tom Bennett

Sechelt's Mary Kenny is working to bring some good out of her son's untimely death, but she needs the community's support.

Kenny has set up a fund in her son Thomas Bennett's name that will grant $1,000 to a deserving engineering student each year at the University of British Columbia (UBC). In order to make the yearly grants possible, however, the fund needs to reach $30,000. Currently the fund sits at $8,500.

"We want to create this memorial fund and bring some life out of his death. Through this his essence is able to touch the future where he can't be," Kenny said.

Bennett died on April 1, 2010 at the age of 26, while climbing Mount Shasta in California. He was an avid outdoorsman who sported a perpetual smile and lived by the mantra "live life to the fullest." He was also very passionate about his chosen profession - engineering.

"He was passionate about his engineering and he wanted to make a difference through sustainability," Kenny said. "He had already started. He was one of the people responsible for attracting the biodiesel fuel project to UBC. He never had the chance to see that project finished, but UBC's engineering department unveiled a plaque in honour of him at the reactor site in December."

Kenny has been working tirelessly the past year to raise money for the Thomas Bennett student enrichment memorial fund in chemical and biological engineering she set up at UBC. She can be found every Thursday night at the Sechelt night market selling baked goods made by Bennett's grandmother and passing out pamphlets and bookmarks telling people about her son and the fund set up in his name. She accepts any donation big or small, and those donations have added up to $8,500 so far.

Kenny wants to reach $10,000 by the end of the summer and she has a special fundraiser coming up this Sunday, Aug. 28 to help meet that goal. The date marks what would have been Bennett's 28th birthday.

The fundraiser is at the Lighthouse Pub at 1 p.m. on Sunday and features a silent auction, door prizes and a 50/50 draw. Bennett's award-winning Thai burger will also be served by Bennett's friends and all proceeds will go to the memorial scholarship fund.

You can also donate at www.tomspirit.com or visit the UBC website at www.supporting.ubc.ca/thomasbennett.

You can contact Kenny at 604-989-3255.