A fundraiser launched in memory of Jeff Keenan, the Whistler man killed in a tragic avalanche near Kaslo last week, has raised more than $368,000 in just a few days—surpassing initial expectations and reflecting the deep impact he had on the snowboarding community and beyond.
Keenan, 45, died on March 24 while heli-skiing in the Kootenay backcountry. He leaves behind his partner of more than 20 years, Leanne Pelosi, and their two-year-old son, Khyber.
“Jeff wasn’t just known for his incredible decades-long influence in snowboarding… He was known for his heart, his smile, humor and generosity,” the GoFundMe campaign reads. “He was kind. He was present. And he was so deeply loved by so many.”
The fundraiser, organized by close friends Jacqui Berg, Dom Vallee, Ming Kao and others, was launched to support Pelosi and Khyber as they face the unthinkable. Pelosi, also a well-known figure in the snowboarding world, was with Keenan at the time of the avalanche and tried desperately to save him, digging him out and performing CPR for over 30 minutes.
“She did everything, and she was with him in those final moments, telling him how loved he was,” the campaign states.
The funds will help cover immediate expenses such as evacuation and memorial costs, but also aim to give Pelosi time to grieve without the pressure of returning to work in the same backcountry that took her partner. Long-term, the money will help provide stability for Khyber and preserve the family’s life in Whistler—something Keenan had deeply wished for.
“One of Jeff’s only life dreams was to raise Khyber in Whistler,” an update on the campaign reads. “This fund will help Leanne stay in the home she built with Jeff, honoring his dream and providing the stability and support Khyber needs.”
The initial fundraising goal has now been raised to $500,000 as donations continue to pour in from friends, family, fellow athletes, and strangers moved by the story. “This is how we hold her up. This is how we show her she’s not alone,” the campaign says. “Let’s show up for them the way Jeff always showed up for us.”
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