Katie’s Roar Commemorates Family Friend In Toy Drive This Year

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Two family members lost have brought these two Hawley families together.

Lisa Bjorndahl, a mother who lost her daughter to an overdose on September 29, 2018 started Katie’s Roar.

The nonprofit to help those with mental health commemorates her daughter.

Katie was known to people as someone who helped others more than herself.

This year, Lisa Bjorndahl’s best friend’s son, Cole Carlson, lost his life in a car accident.

Cole’s impact on the people around him reminded Bjorndahl of her daughter and she wanted to honor them.

She had a toy drive and dropped off the donations at Ronald McDonald House in Fargo.

“Karen and I have been long life, life-long best friends and we do everything together. And now we’ve lost children together, so we’ll do this together too,” said Lisa Bjorndahl, President of Katie’s Roar.

Bjorndahl will continue to commemorate both Carlson’s and Katie’s images in the toy drives for the future.