Local community rally round family of 9yo cancer victim whose memorial plaque was desecrated by a drunk man

A man scrubs a child's memorial plaque
Photo credit: Facebook/ Paul Burgan, Mark Clopp

A grieving father has had his hope in humanity restored after two men stepped in to protect his dead son's memory.

Video surfaced online of a drunken man urinating on nine-year-old cancer victim Christian Clopp's memorial. 

The memorial in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, is comprised of a large stone inlaid with a photograph of Christian, and a small inscription.

Two football coaches who saw the disgusting footage decided to do something about it, and headed to the memorial to personally clean and disinfect it.

"We were both so disgusted by what we read and heard we felt we needed to go down to this memorial, clean it up and disinfect it," Paul Burgan wrote on Facebook.

"We did not make this post for publicity but we made this post to let people know that this is our community and we don't condone this type of sickening act," he continued.

The post has gained over 900 shares, and hundreds of comments.

Christian's father, Mark responded to the men's kindness with a lengthy post of his own.

First, he condemns the men who desecrated his son's memorial.

"I don't know either one of you. I have no idea what exists in your life to make you so indifferent to how others feel but I hope this serves as a wake up call and you get the help you need," he said. 

He offered a heart-warming message for the two men who stepped up and helped.

"You are the glue that holds this community together. Your actions were kind, thoughtful and selfless. You are the example of 'loving thy neighbor'. Thank God we have role models like you."

Mark finished with a touching story about the son he lost to brain cancer in 2014.

"When Christian's plaque was being made for the playground, I chose the words carefully. " A child who made the world a better place through his courage, faith, smile, laughter and love of others." "May your memory and inspiration live on forever."

Once again, that 9 year old boy brought a community together."

A crowdfunding page to expand and improve the park in which Christian's memorial is located has reached over $4,000.

The two men who defaced the memorial have been caught and charged with multiple offences including lewdness, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. 

Newshub.