EDMONTON - Friends and family came together on Saturday to remember the victim of a murder in the small community of Gibbons, Alberta.
"It's been just over 15 and a half months and there's not a day that goes by that we don't think of him," says Wayne Petherbridge, the victim's father. "Every morning when we open our eyes and walk out onto the house we're reminded of him. We have pictures all over, and it's really a hard way to start your day every day."
His 23-year-old son, Cam, was found dead inside a Gibbons home March 2, 2011. The investigation into his murder is ongoing, with a number of people having been charged with a variety of offences relating to his death. One trial related to the death is scheduled for the spring of next year.
But on Saturday, the focus was on remembering the good times friends and family had experienced with Cam. They way they chose to commemorate his life was on the basketball court.
For Sara Houlton, who helped organize the event, the second annual basketball fundraiser has a special significance.
"Me and cam used to play basketball a lot together and we also knew he had a favorite charity which he cared a lot about, so we decided to put the two together."
The charity his friends chose was the Ronald Macdonald house. Cam's parents are hoping the event will raise $3,000 for the charity.
As Cam's friends and family's came together to do what he loved, they reminisced about the kind of person he was.
"He was the nicest guy you'll ever meet in your life. He'd give you the shirt of your back, no worries about it. down to earth. If you ever needed a guy to talk to, he was the guy to talk to," says Kevin Beskorowany, who was Cam's best friend.
"When he was younger he worked at the old folks' home. He just wanted to help. He tried all the time. He was somebody who always could make you smile," adds Houlton.
About 100 people took part in Saturday's fundraiser.
"It overwhelmes us to see how many cared about Cam and really is a testament to his character," his dad says.
With files from Slav Kornik, Global News
© Global News. A division of Shaw Media Inc., 2012.