Fundraiser launched for family of teen girl slain in Uxbridge skateboarding accident

A fundraiser has been launched for the family of Lillian Bennett, a 16-year-old skateboarder who was fatally run over.

Bennett was skateboarding at the Uxbridge Rotary Skate Park on Sept. 22. Around 6:30 p.m. she was holding on the back of a pickup truck which pulled her around the parking lot. As she was being pulled, she lost her balance and fell under the truck.

The truck ran over Bennett inflicting severe life-threatening injuries. She was rushed to a local hospital, then to a Toronto trauma centre. She fought for her life for days but succumbed to her injuries on Sept. 26. Bennet had recently gotten her G1 driver’s license and signed up as an organ donor at the time. After her death, her organs saved the lives of seven recipients.

Her lungs went to a woman in her 20s and her kidneys were split between two girls. Her liver went to a “very very sick” middle-aged woman. Her heart saved another middle-aged woman while her pancreas saved a teenage girl, according to the GoFundMe set up in Bennett’s name.

“Lillian lived her life true to herself and was always thinking of others. Ever since she was a little girl she wished and planned to become an orthopedic surgeon,” wrote fundraiser organizer Tracee Sheldrake.

“For a young lady who always dreamt of helping other people, this unfair tragedy has only shifted her goal in the way in which she is doing so,” she continued “On September 27th she will be honoured with the Trillium Gift of Life Hero Walk as she selflessly offers her beautiful & amazing act of kindness to save so many girls lives.”

Shelldrake quoted Dr. Suess who wrote, “To the world, you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world,” to which Shelldrake added, “Lillian is now the world to those girls and their families.”

“The Bennett family is always the first to offer help to anyone in need. They will be so thankful for your support during this impossible time,” she said.

The fundraiser exceeded its initial goal of $25,000 in three days from 200 donors. Further donations can be made online.