Our names are Ruth and Bre and we’re fundraising for Amanda and her five boys.

Life can change in an instant.

Amanda and Jeff's story began more than 15 years ago in Ontario, where they met, fell in love, and began building a life together. Their family grew quickly, and by 2013 they were proud parents to three wonderful boys.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, another son joined their family and they made a courageous decision to pursue a long-held dream: moving their family of 6 to Nova Scotia for a different way of life. They settled in Beaver River (Yarmouth), where they embraced the beauty of the Maritimes, nurtured one another's dreams, and continued building the life they had imagined together. In 2023, their family expanded one final time, welcoming one more boy and completing the family they cherished so deeply.

Together, Amanda and Jeff created a home filled with love, adventure, and community.

They raised their five sons surrounded by the simple joys of maritime life and the support of those around them.

In recent months, Jeff stepped into the role of primary caregiver for their children, allowing Amanda to pursue her own dream of opening The Sunshine Studio and The Village Mothers in Port Maitland, Nova Scotia. His unwavering support helped bring her vision to life and establish a welcoming space for families in their community.

Now, Amanda faces the unimaginable reality of navigating life without her partner.

As a newly widowed mother of five boys, including one son with special needs and two children under the age of six, Amanda is learning how to manage responsibilities that she and Jeff once shared. She is now faced with accessing supports and services for her son, caring for her young family, maintaining the life they worked so hard to build, and continuing to grow the small business that Jeff helped make possible.

The road ahead will not be easy, but Amanda and her boys do not have to walk it alone.

We are asking friends, family, community members, and anyone whose life has been touched by Amanda, Jeff, or their family to come together in support. Whether you knew them years ago in Ontario, have crossed paths with them in Nova Scotia, or have become part of their community more recently, every contribution will make a meaningful difference.

Funds raised will help Amanda provide stability for her children, access necessary supports for her special-needs son, manage household expenses, and continue building the future that she and Jeff dreamed of together.

Most importantly, your support will remind Amanda and her boys that they are surrounded by a community that cares.

Thank you for helping carry this family forward during one of the most difficult chapters of their lives.