Over $20,000 raised for family of woman who died hiking in Kananaskis Country
More than $20,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe for the family of a woman who died while hiking in Kananaskis Country late last month.
The GoFundMe identifies the hiker as Mariel Cendana Surat, who passed away while attempting the highly popular Tent Ridge hiking route in Spray Valley Provincial Park.
She was reported missing on the evening of Aug. 23, 2026, after a hailstorm came through the area. A search was promptly conducted, and Surat was found on the mountain the following day, deceased. A report from CBC added that police weren’t considering the death suspicious, and the chief medical examiner’s office was determining the cause of death.
The victim’s 22-year-old son states in the GoFundMe that they had only been in Canada for more than a year, and it was just the two of them living in the country. He is now hoping to bring his mom back home to the Philippines.
“It breaks my heart that we did not get to say goodbye to the most precious and wonderful woman in our life. She worked most of her life, trying to give her children a better life. She was our backbone. She died doing what she loved, by being in the mountains. She loved the mountains, and perhaps the mountains became her final home. Everything was so sudden, and there were no preparations,” the GoFundMe read.
“Now all I could do is give her a proper burial with our family in the Philippines. I am knocking on everyone’s door to help me bring my mom back home. No amount is too small, and every contribution means a lot for us. We are truly grateful for your kindness, generosity, prayers, and support.”
As of writing, more than $20,000 has been raised across hundreds of donations, including a donation of $2,500 from the Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts. The GoFundMe has a goal of $24,000.
GoFundMe
You can view the GoFundMe for Surat online.