Yellowknife (May 13/05) - Donations can still be made to the Fyfe Family Trust through RBC's Yellowknife branch, say fundraisers.

Cyril Fyfe died battling a fire. Donations can be made to help with his children's education.

"I would encourage people to continue making donations," said Garth Wallbridge who leads the Rotary Club's fundraising campaign for the trust.

Rotarians set up 25 donation boxes at businesses around Yellowknife where more than 5,000 black ribbons were distributed.

Wallbridge collected the donations and said around $10,000 was donated by Yellowknifers, but the family will likely need more.

The response to fundraising efforts from city residents has been "phenomenal" said Darcy Hernblad, Yellowknife's deputy fire chief of operations.

"Yellowknifers are great people: how they come together," Hernblad said.

The fire hall's Combat Challenge Team plans on donating 25 per cent of the money they raise for competitions in the south to a memorial fund. The memorial, which is still in the planning stage, will "honour the two firefighters," Hernblad said.

The two local McDonald's restaurants are also raising money for the trust. With nearly $3,000 raised so far in pin sales and donations, they are on their way to the $10,000 goal, says Dean Hall, general manager.

On top of donations, McDonald's will give 75 per cent of the money raised on May 18, McHappy Day, to the trust. One dollar from every sale of specific sandwiches on the day goes to charity.

"Right now (the money is being used) to keep Cyril's household going," said Kathy Meszaros, who is managing the trust.

The remaining money will likely go to education funds for Fyfe's five children, Meszaros said.