A fundraiser has been set up for a Chilliwack cyclist who suffered a spinal injury following a crash while mountain biking on the weekend.
Spencer Arnold was riding his bike on Vedder Mountain on Sunday, Feb. 6 when the collision happened. Chilliwack Search and Rescue volunteers were called to the scene and Arnold was air lifted off the mountain and taken to Abbotsford Regional Hospital for medical imaging, then later transferred to Vancouver General Hospital.
A GoFundMe was started by friends Ernie and Emma Kliever following the incident.
“The crash resulted in him breaking his C6 and C7 vertebrae putting pressure on his spinal cord, and he lost feeling and function from his chest down,” the Klievers wrote on the fundraiser page.
Arnold underwent an extensive six-hour surgery at Vancouver General Hospital to stabilize his spine.
“Parts of vertebrae were removed and his spine now has a series of titanium rods and plates running from C2 to L2. These will remain permanent,” the Klievers said. “When he woke he was able to give his wife Donna Arnold’s hand a squeeze.”
Arnold is one of the founders of Vedder Mountain Bike Co.
“Spencer has been a fixture in the biking community here in Chilliwack, Kelowna and in the biking industry as a whole.”
He worked as a mechanic at Jack’s Cycle, then moved to Union Cycle in Kelowna before opening up Vedder Mountain Bike Co. with friends Rob Friesen and Jeremy Knoke.
“He is the guy to know in town, and is always up for an adventure,” the Klievers said.
According to an update on Vedder Mountain Bike Company’s Instagram page, Arnold has a complete spinal injury at C6, which means that his current level of function is permanent.
“He has some limited mobility in his hands and arms, and they are hopeful that this can be improved with rehab,” the @veddermountainbikeco post reads.
Within a day, more than $80,000 had been raised for Arnold and his family.
Funds will be used to cover the costs of trips to and from the hospital and rehabilitation centre, stays in Vancouver, accessibility modifications to their home, medical equipment, therapy and anything else they may need to help them moving forward.
“If you know Spencer and Donna, or almost more famous their border collie Fern, they are some of the best humans (and doggo) you could know. They are both very active people and this news is certainly going to be an adjustment for them,” the fundraiser page reads. “They are remaining positive and optimistic, and they are going to fight hard to do whatever they can to improve Spencer’s outcome.”
He will spend the next two to 10 days in the ICU while they monitor his condition and prepare to transfer him to the spinal unit, and then for further rehabilitation at GF Strong in Vancouver.
The family would like to thank Chilliwack Search and Rescue and all the mountain bikers who were on the scene to assist with his smooth extraction off the mountain, as well as the hospital staff.
“We are forever grateful to you, and we can’t thank you enough.”
To donate to the Arnold family, go to gofundme.com/f/help-support-the-arnolds.
RELATED: GoFundMe set up for Chilliwack mountain biker seriously injured after falling down ravine
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