TOMBALL, Texas — A Houston-area family that lost five loved ones in a tragedy in 2022 is doing everything they can to keep the memory of their loved ones alive by providing scholarships for youth impacted by similar tragedies.
They're doing it on Aug. 8 -- or what they're calling Collins 8 Day.
It's been a tough two years for the community and the family.
They joined forces Thursday at a hot baseball field at Tomball High School. The group is bonded for life, not just by pain and grief, but by love.
"We're still not getting over it," Brock Stanton said.
Stanton was Waylon Collins' former teammate. Waylon wore No. 8 for the Tomball baseball team.
"Everyone remembered his laugh. A really humble guy. The bestest friend you could ever ask for," Brock said.
Waylon was one of five people killed in June 2022. Gonzalo Lopez escaped a prison bus and made his way to the Collins family ranch, where he killed Waylon, his two younger brothers Hudson and Carson, his cousin Bryson and his grandfather Mark Collins. Lopez was later killed in a shootout with police.
"We have gone through the darkest days," Misti Collins said.
Misti is the mother of three of the boys who were killed.
"A mother's biggest fear when they lose their children, and I have lost all three, is that their kids will be forgotten," Misti said.
Even through the darkness, they're finding a way to help others in honor of those who they've lost by lending a helping hand to others in need.
They created the Collins 8 Foundation to honor the family as well as Waylon's uniform number.
"Eight is everything," Brock said.
They created a scholarship to help kids going through similar situations.
"That's what we want to do -- support those kids," Misti said.
They turned the pain into kindness for others.
"Seeing your kids reach their dream is special," Misti said. "Love will always defeat evil that is the bottom line."
Their goal on Thursday was to raise $8,888 for their scholarship fund. Click here for more information.