Donate to help Karen heal and recover ❤️

Hello, my name is Amanda and I'm fundraising for my dear friends Karen and Dean. On Sunday, July 13th, Karen was struck by a car while racing in the Okanagan Granfondo in a tragic accident that killed a fellow cyclist and has left Karen and another cyclist in the ICU. With a broken arm, injured knee, external stitches, and internal injuries that are not yet fully diagnosed, Karen is looking at months of recovery, the financial strain of which could be devastating for her and her partner, Dean.

I've had the pleasure of working with Karen since 2012 in a clinic where she is a much-loved registered massage therapist. For years, her schedule has been fully booked months in advance with easily over 20 clients on her waiting list per day. As a self-employed contract worker, no work means no money, and no financial aid from government unemployment insurance. Dean, who is also self-employed (and an amazing personal trainer), is currently off to be with Karen and will need to be available to provide around-the-clock care as Karen heals when she is eventually released from the hospital. Funds raised will go towards their living expenses (such as housing fees, food, and bills), and upcoming therapies while Karen and Dean are forced to take time off from their only source of income.

As an avid cyclist, Karen has participated in cycling races throughout BC, including the Granfondo, for multiple years. She bikes to work every day, goes on long rides on the weekends, and mountain bikes with Dean when not training for road races. She loves moving her body, being outdoors, and can even be persuaded to participate in a running race or two, especially if there's wine during or after the race #halfcorkedmarathon!

To know Karen and Dean is to love them. Karen's infectious smile and bubbly personality is guaranteed to brighten your day, Dean's down-to-earth and kind-hearted nature puts anyone at ease, and together they are truly unstoppable. Every donation, no matter the amount, will go a long way to ensuring these two continue to spread their love of health and fitness for years to come, and relieve at least a little stress in the months to come. They've made a career of healing and helping others, now it's our turn.

I'll be posting updates on Karen's medical situation as they come in. For now, she is doing ok and awaiting the results of scans that were taken today.