MICHIGAN — The lives of two West Bloomfield children who passed away in a fatal boating accident last summer will be honored at three upcoming events organized by members of the Chaldean community. 

Alexander, 11, and Gabrielle, 6, passed away after the accident on Sylvan Lake last July. The family’s third child, Adriana, survived the boating accident. She was only 10 years old at the time. 

Following the tragedy, community members rallied around the family by holding candlelight vigils at Chaldean churches across metro-Detroit, and they will continue offering their support through the series of events.  

A fundraiser will take place at Airtime Trampoline and Game Park of Troy from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. on May 2 beginning at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the Chaldean Seminarian Fund. A special guest from the Detroit Pistons will be participating in the event. 

A basketball tournament in remembrance of the children is scheduled for June 14. Both children and adults will participate in the tournament. 

A commemoration ceremony is being held Sep. 21, and includes a 1.7-mile walk at the Detroit Zoo. The walk will be followed by a mass in the zoo pavilion that will also benefit the Chaldean seminarian fund.

In December, proceeds for the annual Passion for Fashion charitable event were donated to the Alexander and Gabrielle Mansour Memorial Fund.  It is a permanently endowed fund to support the West Bloomfield School District. Annual distributions from the fund support student enrichment programs or activities, including art, dance or basketball, all of which were hobbies that were of particular interest to both Alexander and Gabrielle.