A martial arts scholarship has been set up in memory of York Regional Police Const. Travis Gillespie, who was killed in a collision in Markham.
The Hearts for Martial Arts Foundation is an Ontario organization created in 2022 to help families who can't afford extracurricular sports, particularly martial arts. The foundation sponsors children to help them register in local gyms in their area.
Now, the foundation has established the Travis Robert Gillespie Martial Arts Scholarship.
"Hearts for Martial Arts is humbled to have been approached by Travis’ family who wished to honour his memory by donating to our charity," the foundation said on its website.
The family wished to honour one of Gillespie's passions.
"Travis was passionate about martial arts. He loved children and always promoted good physical and mental health through exercise and fitness. Hearts for Martial Arts has set up a scholarship in Travis’ name which will be awarded to a child each year in his memory," the foundation said.
In the obituary for Gillespie, his family said "Travis was passionate about martial arts, and enjoyed training, skateboarding and snowboarding."
The obituary also mentioned the martial arts scholarship fund.
Donations to the fund can be made online through the foundation's website.
Const. Gillespie was 38 years old when he was killed while driving to work on Sept. 14. He was a member of York Regional Police in District 2.
The driver, 23-year-old Haoju Zhou, is charged with impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death.
