Fundraiser Held in Memory of Branford Boy

More than 200 people gathered in Branford on Sunday to help raise money for a foundation named in honor of a 10-year-old boy who drowned earlier this summer.

Ben Callahan drowned in July when he was swept into a culvert.

Now, his family is trying to turn their loss into some good.

“We’ve just been so blessed to have the support that we have,” said David Callahan, Ben's father.

Organizer Leon Rebmann knew if he called on the local motorcycle clubs there would be a good show of support. Two-hundred-fifty people from across Connecticut lined up to ride in memory of Ben.

“I think in times like this when it involves children, just people get really sensitive to that and they want to help out in any way, shape, and form they can,” Rebmann said.

Rebmann hoped to raise $5,000 in the first year, but an hour into the fundraiser he’d already exceeded that goal.

“I’m hoping to make 20 (thousand) now, maybe more if possible,” he added.

A fitting way to raise funds for a foundation named in Ben’s honor.

“Ben loved to be on motorcycles. We’d go anywhere, he’d be on the bike with his helmet on waiting and ready to go,” David Callahan said.

An energetic boy with the wavy brown hair, the middle child, was known as number two, to his family and friends. Scout Callahan said he misses his big brother’s laugh the most.

“When he laughed it would make me and my cousins laugh when we were around him. He was a really good athlete. He was a very nice person, and he was very fun," Scout Callahan said.

The foundation has already helped feed the hungry on the New Haven Green and will fund a Christmas party for foster kids this December. Ben’s family says his love for life lives on in these good deeds.

“There are days that we cry and there are days that really break your heart, but we’re enjoying the ten years we had with him,” David Callahan said.

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