Maya Gebala, badly injured in the Feb. 10 mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, has received the Youth Heroism Award from a U.S.-based foundation.
The Story
Maya Gebala, the 13-year-old from Tumbler Ridge who was badly injured in the Feb. 10 mass shooting, has been named the first international recipient of the Youth Heroism Award from a U.S.-based charity.
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation, also known as The Uvalde Foundation For Kids, says it recognized Gebala for “exceptional courage, leadership, compassion, or selfless action” after she was singled out for her courage during the attack and “her determination throughout the difficult recovery.”
The foundation says Gebala is being recognized for her actions during the attack, including according to accounts shared by her family, attempting to secure the school library door to help protect other students as the attack unfolded.
The foundation was formed after the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in May 2022 that killed 19 children and two teachers.
In Tumbler Ridge, Jesse Van Rootselaar killed eight people before shooting herself, and Gebala was gravely injured. She was released from BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver last week, more than eight months after being shot three times.
Foundation president Daniel Chapin said in a statement that “heroism is not defined by age” or whether someone “walked away unharmed.” He added, “Maya was a young girl facing an unimaginable situation, and she showed courage in the midst of it,” saying, “We are honoured to recognize her.”
← More stories