In loving memory of Nep De Rama
Neptali De Rama was one-of-a-kind and an extraordinary character. It would be impossible to summarize the impact he had on his many friends and family. With that said we’d like to provide everyone with a small glimpse of what’s beneath the surface. The 40 year old man in the news articles below was an avid snowboarder with a passion for the outdoors, but sadly it’s also with a tragic end. Dig deeper, you’ll find a cherished son in a close-knit family of four brothers as well as an accomplished martial artist and mechanic. Go further still and you’ll find a spiritual man who lived a simple life and who would share whatever he had, even the shirt off his back. He was a selfless and genuine individual who would offer himself and his efforts to help others who may be down on hard-times. Nep didn’t have much financially, but that wouldn't stop him from picking up the tab on a meal; offering a pro-bono auto repair; or helping a friend with a move, even after a 12-hour nightshift. The list could go on. His belief in displaying kindness to anyone and everyone and his truly humble demeanour has resonated with us all, his family and friends.
Unfortunately, the extent of this tragedy has not yet been fully realized. His dream of having a family had been fulfilled, sadly he will not be present to experience it. He leaves behind his beloved partner Erica and their 10 month old baby girl, Emily. It was truly his dream to be a father and it breaks our hearts to know that she will grow up without witnessing his devotion, amazing sense of humour and most importantly, his love. We will all do our part in sharing our stories, photographs and his beliefs, but ultimately, Emily will miss out on growing up with her Daddy. His departure has not only left a massive hole in Emily’s life, but our hearts as well.
Emily and her mother are now left with the daunting task of funeral arrangements and trying to navigate through the financial hardships that await them. Nep was the sole provider for his family with very little in savings and financial assets. His salary is what helped keep them afloat, and now that he's gone the financial security they once had, has gone too.
Please join us in our campaign to raise as much money as possible for Emily, so we can show her that her father was an honourable man and his legacy lives on through the many generous supporters from around the globe. If there was a silver-lining to this tragedy, it’s that we have the opportunity to rally together to show Emily and her mother, that Neptali De Rama will continue to honour his fatherly duty of raising their daughter.
Please note aside from managing the funeral costs, legal fees, and establish funds to cover travel/living expenses; we are also cautiously optimistic we can raise enough money to help with Emily’s future (ie. school, extracurricular activities, etc.), essentially we hope to raise enough funds to have a meaningful impact on her life, now and for the years ahead.
In closing we hope this tragic event could one day be looked back upon by Emily as a time of "love" when everybody came together to rally for her father, mother and her. Maybe, just maybe this memory won't be filled with sadness and despair. Instead it will be a proud one, and she will know her father will always be here, through all of us.
On behalf of the De Rama family, we would like to thank you for your gracious support.
CBC Vancouver 11:30pm evening News - scroll to 13:22 on video
CBC Canada - Cypress Mountain protocol
Vancouver Sun: Missing Snowboarder Found Dead Near Cypress Mountain
Global News: Snowboarder Found Dead on Cypress Mountain
Northshore Rescue: Tragic Ending for Out-of-Bounds Snowboarder
#Follow @pixelpolice on Instagram or Twitter for up-to-date info on Nep's gofundme campaign. Together, we can #rallyfornep and help his grieving widow and baby.
#rallyfornep #hisnameisneptali #foremily <3
