By Scott Roblin

Medicine Hat community donates hundreds to stranded B.C. family

Jan 10, 2018 | 3:57 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It’s been a cross-country journey to remember for Dan Behrends, his mother Margrit, and their six pets.

Departing from Vernon, B.C. on December 29, the family is moving to Niagara Falls, Ontario so that Dan can be with and support his pregnant daughter.

Their trip was going smoothly until around Revelstoke, B.C. when Dan noticed problems accelerating.

“It was the day before New Year’s Eve, so we couldn’t get any repairs done,” said Behrends. “We were kind of limping across the country here going 40 kilometres an hour.”

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The Behrendses were able to get through it however, only to have their 1989 cube van breakdown outside of Redcliff.

Dan phoned Murray Chevrolet Cadillac, who allowed the family to park their vehicle at the dealership over the weekend.

“He was travelling through and stuck on the highway,” said Metcalf. “So, he asked if he could have his vehicle towed here and I said, ‘Absolutely, we’ll get you looked after.’”

Since the dealership was closed, the Behrendses, their three huskies, and three cats slept on a pull-out in their cube van and kept warm with candles for two nights.

Once staff arrived on Monday, they immediately put the family up in a hotel room and bought food so they could eat.

It was at that point that Matthew St. Pierre and few other staff members decided to pitch in to help the family.

“We had staff come together to donate parts, donate their services, donate time,” said St. Pierre. “And then of course, some started donating money and that’s when we decided, ‘Okay, well let’s get a Go Fund Me page going.’”

As of Wednesday afternoon, $785 has been raised to support the family with food, gas, and hotels along their journey, while the dealership donated thousands of dollars in parts and service,

On disability after three separate bouts with brain cancer, Dan said it’s been a humbling and incredibly emotional experience.

“I haven’t even been thinking about the health part of things when I’ve been here,” he said. “It’s like every time I’m around here, someone’s trying to do something nice for me or trying to figure out a way that they can help.”

After Murray Chevrolet staff surprised Dan with the donations on Wednesday, Dan in turn surprised his mother at their hotel with news of the Go Fund Me page.

The outpouring of community support has had a profound impact on Behrends and his family, even toying with the motion of staying in Medicine Hat.

“Instead of moving to Niagara Falls, if I could, I would just move my daughter here to Medicine Hat,” he said. “This is the community to be at, such a warm place.”

Hitting the road for Ontario on Thursday, Dan added the generosity of Medicine Hat and area residents will always stay with him.

“They’ve seriously opened my eyes and my heart,” he said. “I’m going to be paying forward for the rest of my life, because this is the biggest deal getting to my daughter.”