In Honour of Ryan Fletcher: GoFundMe Campaign Donation to COSAR
The local outdoor community lost a true adventurer in December when Ryan Fletcher died in a snowboarding accident in the Big White Mountain Ecological Reserve.
On Saturday, March 26, Ryan’s family and friends met with Central Okanagan Search and Rescue and presented them with over $17,000 raised to support the volunteer organization.
COSAR was tasked with the search and subsequent recovery on December 26-27, 2022.
The operation included members from the Big White Ski Patrol, Penticton SAR, Vernon SAR and a helicopter from North Shore Rescue with night vision capabilities.
“We are extremely grateful to all of the organizations and individuals that contributed to finding Ryan. Raising funds to support COSAR felt like the best way to express our thanks to a wonderful organization that provides rescue efforts when the worst-case scenario occurs,” said Ryan’s lifelong friend John Barker, who organized a Go Fund Me page along with wife Sonya Barker and friend Katy Drago.
Search Manager Duane Tresnich, who coordinated the complex search and recovery, accepted the cheque on behalf of the volunteer rescue group.
“We are extremely grateful for the donation,” said Tresnich.
“Ryan was an outdoorsman who personified our membership–he had a huge love of the outdoors and was always happy to step up and lend a hand.”
“The money will go towards training for our members with some put aside to go to our new building” said Tresnich.
