Unofficial member of BCHL Warriors in Children's Hospital

Photo: Wayne Moore/file

Brendan Ritchie with Rylan Yaremko in 2015.

Four years ago, Castanet brought you a story about a brave young Grade 2 student in West Kelowna.

Brendan Ritchie, seven at the time, had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, a rare disease that severely limits his ability for physical exertion.

That meant he couldn't play the sport he loves – hockey.

Brendan's plight caught the attention of then West Kelowna Warriors defenceman Rylan Yaremko, who took him under his wing, and made him an unofficial part of the team.

While Yaremko has long since departed, Ritchie remains a fixture with the team – in and out of the dressing room. That is, until he ran into medical complications.

Brendan is currently at Edmonton Children's Hospital with a serious blood infection.

Warriors team chaplin Pastor Don Richmond and fan Mary Sollows will be taking donations to help the family during their time of crisis during the first, and second period intermissions of Friday's game against Powell River at Royal LePage Place.

Money was also raised at Tuesday's Kelowna Chiefs game.