Megan Paris

It is every parent’s worst nightmare: the death of a child. A Smith Mountain Lake man faced that heartbreak on Friday when his three-year-old son died from injuries sustained in a case that the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

Following that tragedy, there has been an outpouring of support for the father and the family. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with medical expenses. Various local entrepreneurs have pledged donations, fundraising events or the sale of products to help the family with medical and funeral costs.

A friend of the father organized a motorcycle ride over the weekend in memory of the child and as a fundraiser to help with costs. A T-shirt vendor, Tees and Things by Tracy, designed shirts and decals bearing the logo “#IanColeStrong” as a way to help remember the child, support the family and provide more funds to defray expenses. That hashtag, as well as #JusticeForIanCole, have been trending on social media as people support the family, express their grief and announce these support efforts.

There’s more to this story in the current issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Pick up a copy or subscribe at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to view the full article in the e-edition version.

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