The San Jose Sharks are helping out the search effort to find missing Morgan Hill teenager Sierra LaMar.
Several Sharks players will be at Britton Middle School in Morgan Hill on Wednesday night to sign autographs in exchange for donations. The money will go toward the search for Sierra.
The fundraiser was organized by Sharks forward Logan Couture.
“We are all proud residents of the Bay Area and we want to send a message to Sierra’s family, her friends and the entire community that we have not forgotten about her and we are not giving up hope,” Couture said in a statement.
Couture, 25, is one of the NHL's rising stars. The Sharks hope the event will keep the missing teen on everyone's mind.
"She's a beautiful young girl," Couture said. "You try not to think about what happened or what possibly happened, but we just want to bring hope that she's out there."
#SJSharks forward @logancouture organizes a fundraiser for the search efforts for Sierra LaMar http://t.co/KPaFQkA6ZJ pic.twitter.com/5Uwr3Sr3cd — San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 10, 2014
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Sierra's father, Steve LaMar, was surprised by Couture's efforts to help.
"It's just amazing how much initiative and maturity he shows," Steve LaMar said. "He's a great hockey player, but he's also a great person."
Couture in return spreads the credit and said many teammates eagerly offered to help. He also points to the many volunteers who have never given up in the search for Sierra.
"They've got a group there that are still going out and searching for her," he said. "I really respect those people."
Sierra disappeared in 2012. A suspect has been charged with her kidnapping and murder, but her body has never been found.
Volunteers still search for Sierra every Saturday morning.
Search director Roger Nelson said Couture and the Sharks reaching out to help is an emotional boost.
"It's a boost because we keep going out and searching for Sierra to bring her home and bring closure to the family," Nelson said. "And to have Logan Couture reach out like this and make this generous offer to the LaMar family is just amazing."
More information on Wednesday night's fundraiser can be found on FindSierraLamar.com or on the San Jose Sharks official website. All proceeds will go toward food, supplies and equipment for the search center.
