By Spencer Sterritt

Gofundme campaign aims to help widow after losing fiancée on Christmas Eve

Jan 4, 2016 | 5:14 AM

In the wake of devastating tragedy, a Prince Albert woman has come forward seeking help for her grief-stricken friend.

On Christmas Eve, Brittinea Campbell’s fiancée, Graham Krauss, passed away, survived by their two-month-old son Parker and his step-daughter Kylah.

They were engaged in August, and had been together for two-and-a-half years.

Campbell’s friend Kristen Bell started a Gofundme campaign shortly after to help her through such a difficult time.

Friends with Campbell for years, Bell said it felt like something she needed to do, after seeing several successful Gofundme campaigns on Facebook.

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“She’s gonna need money. [Graham] was the sole provider.”

Krauss worked with the city, and Campbell was taking time off work to care for her son Parker. She had been off work before his birth due to sickness during her pregnancy.

In the five days since the campaign began, nearly $1,400 of the $5,000 goal had been raised. Bell said many of the donations have come from people she doesn’t know.

One donation in particular really struck home.

“The first $100 we got was from a customer of mine at work,” she said. “When I seen it come through, I cried instantly. He doesn’t know Brittinae. He knew Graham a bit, but still. It’s nice for someone to just randomly give $100 to someone you haven’t met.”

Campbell has become withdrawn since Krauss’ passing, according to Bell. “She’s taking it really hard. She’s still able to look after her little guy but she’s not doing a lot. She’s staying at home and not really talking to anyone, unfortunately.”

Bell said Campbell was grateful for the donations, and thanks everyone who has donated.

As well as the trauma of losing a loved one, Campbell will have to undergo surgery in the near future to have gall stones removed, which will prevent her from job-hunting for some time.

“She’s a really nice person,” Bell said. “She’s very caring…very fun. She’s really changed.”

Bell is currently organizing a benefit dance for Campbell and her family, which will hopefully be in March.

ssterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit