FAMILY PLANS FUNDRAISER TO AID SEARCH FOR WOMAN
Windsor Star
December 27, 2008 Saturday
Ontario
The Windsor family of a 30-year-old woman who disappeared while
travelling in China is hosting a fundraiser Sunday in an effort to
boost the search for Ani Ashekian.
Ashekian, who grew up in Windsor and has been working in Toronto as
a paralegal, was last heard from on Nov. 10, after arriving in Hong
Kong. She had left for Beijing on Oct. 24 and was supposed to return
to Canada from Delhi, India, on Dec. 15.
Ashekian’s family members said there has been no activity on her
credit card since Nov. 10 and they are worried because she always
keeps in touch with them while travelling.
Ashekian’s older sister, Rosie Kampstra, said the family is raising
money to hire a private investigator to find Ashekian and bring her
home. A fundraiser will be held Sunday between 1 and 7 p.m. at the
Armenian Community Centre at 702 Pierre Ave. There will be food,
beverages, raffles and a silent auction. The family is asking for
a $20 donation at the door. If Ashekian is found without a private
investigator’s assistance, the money will go to missing children
services, Kampstra said.
Kampstra said Ashekian’s boyfriend, Wendell Walsh, is now in Hong Kong
looking for her. Hong Kong authorities are investigating Ashekian’s
disappearance and Foreign Affairs Canada is aware of the case. A
Facebook page, called Missing: Ani Ashekian, has been set up in hopes
of gathering any information about her disappearance.