Fundraiser aims to send 5 Kimmirut children to see dying father in Ottawa

Donations are pouring in to help five children from Kimmirut, Nunavut, travel to see their terminally ill father in Ottawa.

Bobby Barrieau was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and last week his doctors in Ottawa told him he will likely not return home.

His wife, Kitty Arlooktoo Barrieau, is with him in Ottawa but his five children, ages six to 23, are in Kimmirut.

"They really are expressing to me that they want to be with him," she said.

She says time is of the essence.

"In the last week he's gotten quite weak. He's bedridden and hardly has enough energy to talk. He's not quite the Bobby we knew."

Edward Flynn, the principal of Qaqqalik School in Kimmirut and a family friend, launched an online fundraising campaign Sunday to help cover their travel cost. The cost of one regular round-trip ticket from Kimmirut to Ottawa is about $3,500.

The campaign has reached nearly half of its $13,000 goal.

"I received an email from a lady in Iqaluit whose 12-year old daughter won two return tickets from Iqaluit to Ottawa through the Rotary Club," he said.

"She donated the tickets to the Barrieau children. I just thought that was just unbelievable for this child to do something like this."

Barrieau's wife says she is thankful for the help.

"As difficult as it is for me, for us, I am out of words. I am so grateful for all the support," said Arlooktoo Barrieau.

She is also in the process of applying to the Qikiqtani Inuit Association's compassionate travel program, which grants two airline tickets to family members of terminally ill patients.

The program is funded by Nunavut Tunngavik but administered by regional Inuit associations.

"As soon as we receive the application form, it is reviewed immediately and preferably approved in the same day. In those situations, time is usually critical," said Navarana Beveridge, executive director of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.

"Unfortunately we only have funds for two tickets per family. All the other costs, hotel, meals, are the responsibility of the family."

In 2014, 64 people used the compassionate travel program in the Qikiqtani region alone. 

Flynn says he hopes to be able to send the Barrieau children to Ottawa by Monday.