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Aymen Derbali saved lives when he drew the shooter's attention. Now he needs a new home that can accommodate his disability.
Before the shooting, Derbali lived in a small two-bedroom apartment with his wife and three young children. He has been unable to return home except for brief daytime visits, according to Syed, because the bathroom and most other parts of the apartment are not set up for him.
The cost of the house, as well as some additional modifications, will come to $400,000. The fundraising campaign raised more than $20,000 in less than a day.
Syed said Derbali was "very overwhelmed" by the idea of strangers pitching in to help him out.
"He doesn’t think he’s a hero. He says he did what should have been done."
But Syed isn't surprised that so many people have been moved to help Derbali. A previous DawaNet fundraiser to help the families affected by the shooting raised $400,000 from thousands of people across the country, including from remote communities and First Nations that sent envelopes full of cash to the mosque.
"One thing we learned is how Canadians come together when someone is in need. It doesn't matter what faith background, what culture, what race they come from," he said.
Syed, who is also making a documentary short about the mosque shooting, said it's important that the massacre and its victims are not forgotten.