SILVER SPRING, Md. — A week and a half after a plane crash in Gaithersburg claimed the lives of Marie Gemmell and her two young boys, Cole and Devin, there was laughter at a fundraiser Thursday night for her surviving family.
Kids enjoyed a giant inflatable slide, games and a magic show at the Pop-Up Playzone in Silver Spring.
Co-owner Andrew Ross doesn’t know the Gemmell family personally, but says their story hit home because he is a father: “I just couldn’t imagine what would happen if I was in that situation.”
Admission was $10 per person, and Lilly Magilly’s Cupcakery and Carmen’s Italian Ice donated everything they collected from sales of their treats.
There’s no word yet how much money was raised.
Sara Carlson and her friend brought their young daughters to the event and made it a playdate.
“It really could be anybody anywhere that a plane crashes into their house,” Carlson said. “When that happens it’s just one of those freaky, tragic things and we just wanted to all come out and show support and help out.”
Asked why she came, Lisa Pozsgay got emotional as she held her infant son. “One of their kids was basically his age, so it really hit home seeing pictures,” she said.
Another fundraiser for the Gemmell family is planned Monday at Dogfish Head Alehouse in Gaithersburg.
As of Thursday night, a GoFundMe drive for them had raised an incredible $474,000.
And Ken Gemmell’s employer, Savi Technology, has established a college fund for the couple’s surviving daughter, Arabelle, that has collected more than $19,000.
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