Friends are rallying around a Yukon cyclist who was severely injured in a crash last month.
An online fundraising campaign for the family of Simon Geoffroy has raised more than $10,000 in its first full day on Tuesday.
Geoffroy was hit by a minivan on July 20 while riding his bike in Takhini North.
The 20-year-old was medevaced to Vancouver General Hospital where he’s been since.
Simon’s brother Etienne said he was recovering well from extensive injuries to his limbs. He was talking and able to go outside in a wheelchair.
But complications from surgery last week led to a blood clot that caused a stroke, Etienne said. Simon was paralyzed on one side of his body.
“He’s just starting to move that side again,” Etienne said.
The doctors estimate he’ll be in the hospital for at least another month or two.
The money raised online will help his mother Sylvie and his father Christian stay by his side.
Etienne was genuinely surprised when he was told how much money had been raised.
“(I feel) really good that there’s a lot of support in Whitehorse and it’s good to see that in times like this that are really tough, that everyone’s there to support. It makes me feel good that I live in Whitehorse.”
Family friend Christine Klaassen St-Pierre helped put together the online campaign.
“When we set $10,000 we thought that was pie in the sky. We had no idea that the community would react like this,” she said.
“When we are faced with something like this, we feel helpless to help. I mean, we pray, we want to do anything we can to take away any sort of pain or worry.”
The goal has since been bumped to $15,000.
The fundraising page shows photos of Simon biking and skiing.
Klaassen St-Pierre describes him as someone who loves the outdoors and loves the Yukon.
“That’s another reason why people are responding so well: everyone loves Simon. He’s kind and generous and funny and all we want to do is see him back out there on his bike or on his skis or back up in the Yukon.”
The fundraiser can be found at gofundme.com/HelpSimonGeoffroy
Contact Ashley Joannou at
ashleyj@yukon-news.com