Friends rally to help paralyzed FMX rider

KELOWNA – Friends of freestyle motocross rider and Kelowna native Bruce Cook have begun a fundraising campaign to help pay for his recovery following a tragic accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Cook, 26, was seriously injured while attempting the first ever double front flip at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ont. Friday, Jan. 3, 2013. He was rushed to Hamilton General Hospital with serious injuries and has been in a wheelchair ever since.

An online fundraising page was opened on behalf of Cook at a free website called YouCaring.com. The web page states Cook is not covered by disability insurance “due to the nature of the sport” and is forced to pay his own expenses.

So far, more than $7,400 of their $50,000 goal has been raised.

“The reality is that he is experiencing a situation that is unfathomable to many of us,” writes the author of the website. “Intense physical pain, rigorous physiotherapy, adverse reactions to medication and adjusting to his new physical situation are all major parts of his current reality.”

“In order to help Bruce on his road to recovery and enable him to focus only on that which helps him the most, we are launching a fundraising effort so that he need not worry about financial strains associated with medical expenses, living adaptations, mobility needs, treatments, etc.”

Cook has coined the Twitter phrase #SmileforBC as a way to inspire others and those close to him say he is staying positive and is focused on one day getting back on his bike.

To help Bruce with his recovery, visit his Facebook page or this website.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca, call (250) 718-0428 or tweet @AdamProskiw.