By Dan McNee, Midwestern Newspapers
MAPLETON – As a family and community continue to mourn the sudden passing of Matt Ottens following a tragic incident at Conestogo Lake, the overwhelming public response to a fundraiser initiated by a close friend has provided some comfort and support.
In only a week’s time, an online GoFundMe account named in Matt’s honour and benefitting his wife, Leona, and their four children, has closed in on $155,000 as of Monday.
Ottens died on June 13 while attempting to assist a child who had gone overboard from a boat off which the family was swimming on Conestogo Lake that afternoon.
The child was pulled safely from the water, but the 33-year-old never resurfaced.
Graham Brown, whose family has become very close to the Ottens family over the last few years, launched the fundraiser as a way to help out Leona and her children.
Brown is the owner of New U Personal Training Studio in Listowel along with his wife, Alison. Matt and Leona began utilizing their gym as clients several years ago, before Leona was hired on as a personal trainer.
Their friendships grew quickly, with Graham and Matt establishing a weekly Sunday morning workout routine as well as playing on the same indoor soccer team together.
The two friends were able to share one last workout only a few hours before Matt died.
“It’s still really surreal. Just trying to explain and understand it,” said Brown, who added Matt had helped him move a desk following their last workout – just a small example of how Matt never hesitated to enthusiastically assist others.
“It’s a horrible thing. Matt was such an awesome guy. Really well loved, just a positive, happy guy. That’s just who he was.
“He was there for everyone in his life. Anything you needed, he was there.”
Brown said he initially set a goal of $13,000 on the GoFundMe page because 13 was a number Matt liked, and simply because the site had asked for one.
“I didn’t know what to ask for. I just thought $13,000, that’ll be enough to get a little bit of relief for them,” said Brown of the Ottens family.
“God just thought he’d add a zero. It’s funny how it all works. It’s been amazing to see the outpouring of support.”
He added, “It speaks volumes to a couple things. One, who Matt was, and who his family is and the deep connections they have within this community and more broadly.
“The other thing is, the tragedy of it all. With the internet nowadays, the spread has been immense. People just want to help in some way, and they want to honour him in some way.”
With the total now well surpassing the initial goal, Brown said he was able to tell Leona that she wouldn’t have to worry about her children’s education expenses for the foreseeable future.
“It’s an honour to be able to do that, and at the same time, a horrible thing to have to do,” he said.
“That’s the duality of this whole thing. It’s very hard to describe.”
Brown thanked the community for its generosity, through individual, business and organizational donations.
“We appreciate their support. Listowel, Drayton, Moorefield and the surrounding area has been an immense blessing,” he said.
“To our family, it never ceases to amaze us how they tend to step up at times like this.
“It’s just a comfort to know that we have such amazing people who are so caring, compassionate and generous.”
The GoFundMe account for the Ottens family can be found at gofundme.com by searching “Matt Ottens Memorial Fund.”
The account will remain active for approximately one more week as donations continue to come in.
“The one thing that I know which has been good for all of them, is that they know where Matt is,” said Brown of the Ottens family.
“Matt was Christian, his family and my family would say grace together before meals, we’d pray and talk about God together and listen to music.
“They know Matt’s with God. That relief is something that is unexplainable, when you have a certainty in knowing that he’s okay and he’s in a better place.”
