Going to bat for Kurt

Oct 21, 2010

Photo: back row l-r, Laurie Love, Judy Cooke, Cory Thompson, Marie Vinkle and Nancy Thompson. front l-r Michael Thompson, Candy Thompson

Family friends and supporters from the community went to bat last weekend to raise fund funds for 22-year-old Kurt Thompson, a former Tichborne resident who was critically injured in a car accident on Crow Lake Road on Sept. 28 just before 4PM.

Thompson, who had been working at Cavanagh Construction in Ottawa for a number of months, suffered multiple internal injuries and numerous broken bones when the car that he was driving left the road and hit a rock cut. He had to be extricated from his vehicle and was then air lifted to Kingston General Hospital where to date he has undergone numerous surgeries. He is now currently in stable condition in the ICU at KGH.

I spoke to his uncle Michael Thompson and his aunt Judy Cooke in Parham on Saturday and Michael informed me of Kurt's current condition: “He will definitely have to undergo more surgeries and though he is doing remarkably well considering the seriousness of his injuries he still has a long road of recovery ahead of him and will likely be in the hospital for a number of months.”

Following the accident two of Kurt's first cousins, Laurie Love and Cory Thompson, decided to organize the ball tournament in support of Kurt who is well known around the community as an accomplished athlete who plays hockey for the Westport Rideaus and ball in Sharbot Lake. The entire family joined forces to make the event happen and the tournament took place at the Sharbot Lake and the Parham ball fields on Oct. 16 and 17, with 14 teams and close to 150 players participating. Teams each donated $150 and additional funds were raised through canteen sales, various raffles and personal donations. As of Monday morning a total of $6,000 had been raised for Kurt and his family.

The funds will be geared to Kurt’s needs once he is home from the hospital. The family was touched by the outpouring of support from the community and Michael Thompson said, “It's times like these when you really appreciate a community like this and are truly grateful for your family and friends. Judy Cooke said, “Right now everyone's just taking it one step at a time, one day at a time.”

Kurt's cousin Cory was pleased with the turnout and the outpouring of support. “Kurt's a great guy, loves kids and is a great athlete and really just a big teddy bear but he's also a fighter and he's been battling back hard and every day he is getting better,” he said.

The family wishes to thank everyone who came out to participate as well as members of the Central Frontenac Fire Department/Sharbot Lake and EMS personnel from Parham, who responded to the accident.

Anyone who missed the tournament but would still like to donate can contact Cory Thompson at 613-539-1125 or Laurie Love at 613-374-5696.