Help Eric McConnell's Family Through This Tragedy

I don’t ask for help often, but today I come to you with a heavy heart. My friend Eric McConnell passed on Monday while he was on vacation in Aruba with his wife. He went out for his regular jog and suffered a massive heart attack. He was the primary bread winner and leaves behind his high school sweetheart/wife Michelle, and four children. Two of his children have special needs. One daughter, adopted from an orphanage in Eastern Europe, has CP. One son lives with autism. Their other two children, in their early 20’s are just getting started in life (one is newly married). Michelle works as a teaching supervisor at the local community college here in Charlotte. This is a family that lives responsibly, humbly and within its means—these are kids that needs our help.

100% of the proceeds from this Go Fund me will go the family specifically to provide financial stability for the kids – as they start adulthood amidst grief and significant uncertainty about their financial future.

I met Eric through TRBC youth group when I was 15. Michelle and I went to high school together. Michelle and I stayed in touch over the years through Facebook and formed a friendship. Since we moved to Charlotte 10 months ago, Eric and Michelle are the closest friends I’ve made. We spent Thanksgiving with them. We went out for New Years together. We’ve enjoyed game nights in their home. We have done a bunch of dinner & soccer games together. We’ve met up for some Friday night shenanigans and exchanged memes on a regular basis. My favorite memory of Eric is that he and I had recently done some morning coffee meetups together to talk about life, family, and our faith. I felt deeply connected to him. He gave me the ability to be 100% myself. He is one of the best men I’ve ever known.

Please consider supporting this family through their grief and financial uncertainty. These funds can be life giving for them.