Chris Ward is one of those people everyone wants to know – a devoted husband and dad to three boys, a volunteer with two not-for-profit helping organizations (Project Adult Literacy and Cornerstone Counselling), and an active member of his church. After decades working as a professional engineer, Chris and his wife Peggy were just starting to enjoy retirement when the unthinkable happened.

Active and fit, Chris loved skiing in winter and cycling in summer. Eventually he found his way to mountain biking, this year volunteering to co-lead a group to share his joy in exploring Edmonton’s river valley on two wheels.

All that changed suddenly and forever on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Close to the end of a ride with his group, Chris took a jump on the trail and something went terribly wrong. He flipped over the handlebars and landed hard. It was immediately apparent the injury was serious and Chris was carried by EMS off the trail and to hospital.

Chris had suffered a spinal cord trauma to his C3 vertebra. After undergoing surgery to stabilize his neck, Chris found himself unable to move or feel his body below chest level. After 4 months in hospital with no functional improvement, Chris was recently moved to a rehab facility where he can begin the process of adapting to his physical circumstances.

A long and challenging road lies ahead, and friends of Chris and Peggy have created this page to give them hope for a brighter future.

Renovations to their home and a vehicle that can transport Chris so he can participate in life outside the hospital again are the most urgent and pressing needs.

If you can help, your donation would be most gratefully accepted. All funds will go directly to Peggy and we will keep you updated on how they are used to support Chris. Thank you, and know any amount is deeply appreciated.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You don't have to select any of the suggested amounts; just manually enter the amount you'd like to donate. Also, GoFundMe automatically adds a "tip" of 17% to donations. You can opt out of this tip by moving the slider to the left.