With the tragic death of 5-year-old Taliyah Marsman earlier this summer, the second annual Nathan O’Brien Superhero Sports Decathlon, in honour of the slain Calgary boy, seemed even more important.
The similarities between the cases — the days-long Amber Alert, the frantic search leading to rural fields outside the city — made it all feel like “ripping a scab off a wound,” said O’Brien family friend Greg Head.
“It impacts the whole community, and that’s why I think events like this are so valuable,” said Head, who is also the spokesman for the Nathan O’Brien Children’s Foundation.
“It gives people the chance to come out and channel some energy in a positive way.”
The decathlon drew hundreds of kids aged six to 13 to the Springbank Park For All Seasons Saturday for a sunshine-filled day of sports and fun. The youngsters had the chance to try their hand five different sports and take in a fun-filled carnival, then test out their skills in games the next day.
“Nathan would love an event like this,” Head said.
“He’d be the kind of kid that wouldn’t sleep the night before because he’s so excited to come out and play with his friends.”
Jennifer and Rod O’Brien pose for a portrait where the second-annual Nathan O’Brien Superhero Sports Decathlon will be held, at the Springbank Park For All Seasons in Calgary, Alta., on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016. Their son Nathan O’Brien was murdered in 2014, along with his grandparents.
Five-year-old Nathan and his grandparents, Alvin and Kathy Liknes, disappeared from their Calgary home in 2014, sparking the longest Amber Alert in Canadian history.
This summer’s search for Taliyah Marsman, who was the same age as Nathan, brought back memories of the case for many. After Marsman’s mother, Sara Baillie, was found dead in the pair’s Panorama Hills home in July, Calgary police issued an Amber Alert.
They spent three days looking for Taliyah, eventually finding her remains in a field east of the city. Police charged Edward Downey in Marsman and Baillie’s killings later that night.
The bodies of O’Brien and his grandparents were never found, but evidence from a grisly crime scene at the Liknes’ home convinced police to charge Douglas Garland with three counts of first-degree murder. His trial is set to begin in January.
American businessman William Neisler was so touched by the tragedy, he donated $1 million to start the Nathan O’Brien Children’s Foundation to honour the boy’s memory.
Nathan loved superheroes and sports. So his parents, Jennifer and Rod O’Brien, brainstormed with the KidzFirst Grassroots Development Foundation and came up with the idea of a superhero-themed decathlon.
Kids practice hitting before a baseball game at the second annual Nathan O’Brien Superhero Sports Decathlon at Springbank Park west of Calgary on Sunday August 20, 2016. Gavin Young/Postmedia
This year, the weekend included a Friday night fundraiser at a downtown bar. Though Head said he wasn’t sure how much money was raised yet, tickets were sold out, with profits going to KidzFirst to provide affordable sports programming for kids.
There was also a celebrity baseball game and barbecue scheduled for Saturday night.
“This year’s bigger than last year, and we anticipate it growing more,” Head said.
In addition to being a great chance for Calgarian kids to get into sports and learn new games, Head said it’s also the perfect way to keep Nathan’s friends, family and former teammates close.
“(Nathan’s old teammates) went through something really difficult for kids their age, so to be able to have that bond and carry that relationship forward as they get older is really important,” he said.
“This is one way to get them all back together.”
Kids practice shooting hoops before a basketball game at the second annual Nathan O’Brien Superhero Sports Decathlon at Springbank Park west of Calgary on Sunday August 20, 2016. Gavin Young/Postmedia
