It took only 24 days to raise enough money to bring the family of a fallen RCMP officer to Saskatchewan from Nova Scotia this fall.

Weyburn police constable Jeffrey Bartsch started the Gofundme web page in memory of Derek Pineo. The two became friends while undergoing police training at the RCMP Training Depot in Regina in 2007. Five years later, Pineo died when his RCMP patrol car collided with a moose near Wilkie.

Derek Pineo's son Kayleb (middle, back) will be riding alongside Weyburn Constable Jeffrey Bartsch thanks to support through a fundraiser. (Photo courtesy of Bartsch and Pineo family)

His family, living in Nova Scotia, has never had an opportunity to attend an annual memorial service for fallen peace officers. Bartsch decided it was time to help out. After researching airfares for a family of four, Bartsch set a goal of $4,000.

"If somebody would have told me 24 days ago that I would reach the goal of the $4,000 I probably would have told you I didn't believe you." Bartsch told Discover Weyburn. "But, 24 days in, I'm actually overwhelmed with the amount of support that I've been seeing here."

A single, large donation pushed the funddraising over the top. "I was sitting there, and I received a notification through my Gofund me campaign, that I received an $800 donation from a Sarah Dykstra, who identified herself to me as a wife of a troopmate of Derek Pineo, who her husband went to depot with back in 2007 when we were all there." added Bartsch.

"To be honest I don't even know where she is." added Bartsch. "It's absolutely amazing that she would do that. It's by far the most amount of money I've seen in one donation."

Bartsch began raising the money so the family of fallen RCMP officer Derek Pineo can fly across the country to attend special remembrance ceremonies for fallen peace officers in Regina in the fall. He has also invited Pineo's teenaged son, Kayleb, to accompany him on a three-day memorial bicycle ride from Prince Albert to Regina, preceding the ceremony.

"Speaking with Natasha last night (April 12th), she was absolutely in tears." said Bartsch, commenting on the level of public support. "Not only for herself, but for her children to remember their dad and to have this opportunity to attend the ride and the memorial service, who, Derek's name is read every year, but she hasn't had the opportunity to make it out here".

Bartsch said the fundraising has been an emotional event not only for the Pineo family, but for himself as well. "I was actually thinking and reflecting about that last night, how he (Derek Pineo) would think if he was here with us today, how that would feel, that the general population who he served and knew, and family and friends, raising over $4,000 in 24 days, he would be very, very grateful."

The Ride to Remember bicycle trip will depart from Prince Albert on September 21st, and will arrive in Regina on September 23rd.

The Police and Peace Officer's memorial service will be held at the Saskatchewan Legislative building in Regina the following day, Sunday, September the 24th.