As most of you know, on June 25, 2016, our friend and co-worker Leslie (aka Buck) was involved in a motorcycle accident while riding up BC Highway 1 just north of Boston Bar. Buck was ejected at highway speed into a rocky road side ditch opposite a canyon drop off. He suffered multiple injuries including a broken sternum, partially collapsed lung, broken ribs, compound fractures to both bones in his left forearm and a broken elbow on his right. In addition to these injuries his T6 vertebrae was crushed which resulted in a complete sever of his spinal cord leaving him paralyzed from the torso down. Thankfully Buck was riding with an amazing friend who provided critical care and comfort to him until paramedics could arrive. He was then airlifted from Lytton, BC to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH).

 Buck spent the early days in the ICU while his body started the intense recovery process. Weeks later, when he was strong enough, he was moved to the spinal ward of VGH. Early on it was known that Buck would not walk again (this isn’t to say that we all aren’t hoping and praying for a breakthrough that may one day change everything we know about these types of injuries). That said, Buck has been working tirelessly in his rehabilitation program at GF Strong Rehabilitation center and because of his efforts has regained much of the use in his arms. As it stands now, it can’t be determined how much of a recovery his right arm will make but as always, Buck remains determined.  Buck has several months of in-patient rehab ahead of him as he learns how to adapt to his new world and how to overcome his limitations.

Though life as he knew it changed in an instant, Buck has remained fiercely positive about his situation and has been an inspiration to everyone around him. For everyone that knows Buck, I don’t have to say what a wonderful, compassionate and caring person he is. He is our family. He is our friend. He is our co-worker. As Buck has touched each one of us in a different way throughout our lives this is our chance to show him that it didn’t go unnoticed. Of all the people in my life, the one person I know that could really use a boost right now is Buck… and this is where we come in.

Buck is now facing several large financial barriers on his road to recovery (the best recovery being the one that gives him as much independence as possible). Everything needed to make his recovery a success is expensive; wheelchairs (upwards of $30k!), lifts, medical devices, home modifications, vehicle modifications, moving costs to name a few; nothing is cheap. If we can come together to help, maybe some of these barriers won’t have to be so big for Buck.

I know Buck is very thankful for your support. Let’s help him focus on his recovery, not the costs.

Please help share this far and wide!