UPDATE: THE Forster Tuncurry Junior Hawks have set up a trust fund for Curtis Landers and his family.
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Donations of any kind can now be made to the Curtis Landers Trust Fund.
Details:
Bank: ANZ
Account Name: Forster Tuncurry Junior Rugby League
Account No: 213700588
BSB: 012-626
Reference: please use your surname or nominate "anonymous"
Forster Tuncurry Hawks’ junior rugby league president Aaron Temple said the club have also spoken about holding an auction night for young Curtis.
"We haven't set a date yet but we are hoping to hold an auction night very soon," he said.
Mr Temple said if people are unable to donate via the trust fund account donations by cheque or other payments can be made by dropping into the First National Real Estate offices on 25 Manning St Tuncurry.
Donations for the upcoming auction night can also be dropped off to the offices.
Mr Temple said donations for the auction can include anything from sporting memorabilia to gift vouchers.
A Facebook page titled ‘Curtis Landers: Road to Recovery’ has been established by Curtis’ family and friends and documents his daily condition. A recent post said: "Hi guys, the MRI scan went well and showed good results. All of the pressure on his spine has been released, but he has a lot of swelling which is completely normal. We now just have to wait and see what happens as the swelling goes down, its a slow process, so keep up the support guys!!!"
For more information about donating to the trust fund or the auction night contact Mr Temple on 0412 490 159.
Related Coverage: May 26: Curtis Landers taken to hospital
May 28: TALENTED Forster Tuncurry Hawks’ player Curtis Landers’ life was thrown into disarray on Saturday after he fractured his neck during a game in Port Macquarie.
Forster Tuncurry Hawks’ junior rugby league president Aaron Temple said it will be several days before the extent of Curtis’ injury is known but confirmed the fracture was at the C2 and C3 vertebrae.
“It will take some time before we know what exactly the prognosis is,” Mr Temple said.
“But at this stage we know it’s the C2 and C3 in his neck. I believe he has feeling in his arms but he’s had a bit of trouble breathing.”
- Forster Tuncurry Hawks junior rugby league president Aaron Temple
The 15-year-old had travelled to Port Macquarie with his team mates to play rugby league against the Port City Breakers at the Wood Street junior fields when the incident occurred around 8.45am.
Mr Temple said the youngster was injured during an attempted tackle when he landed awkwardly and another player fell on him.
Paramedics attended the scene and Curtis was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital. He has since undergone an operation and remains in the Intensive Care Unit.
Mr Temple said it was hoped that Curtis would be moved from ICU in the coming days but it is understood he may remain in hospital for a long period of time.
“It’s likely he will be in hospital for the next 12 months,” he said.
“He’s a tremendous young man. He’s lucky he’s got youth on his side. It’s hoped that he’ll be moved from ICU in the next few days and moved over to the children’s ward.”
Mr Temple said there was no question of malice in Curtis’ tackle on another player and agreed with initial reports that it had simply been a “freak accident.”
“Curtis was making the tackle and unfortunately it’s just the way he landed,” he said.
“And then a poor young kid fell on him. It was definitely a freak accident. It’s a horrible thing to have happened buit could have happened to anyone. There was no malice in the tackle at all.”
Junior president of the Port City Breakers, Gary Hogan said his club was in a state of shock.
“We’ve had continuing talks with the parents and the other club,” he said.
“This is one incident you just wouldn’t wish on anyone.
“We send our best wishes and hope for a positive recovery.”
A Facebook page titled ‘Curtis Landers: Road to Recovery’ has been established by Curtis’ family and friends and documents his daily condition. A post on the page recently said the support so far had been “greatly appreciated.”
Mr Temple told the Advocate yesterday that the club planned to meet last night to talk about setting up a trust fund for Curtis and his family.
“The club will continue to do all it can to support Curtis and his family,” Mr Temple said.
Curtis is in year 10 at the Great Lakes College Forster campus. A Department of Education spokesperson said staff and students have been made aware of the incident and the school is offering counselling to them.
Mr Temple said information in regard to a trust fund and any fundraising efforts will be uploaded to the Forster Tuncurry Hawks website in the coming days. Visit: www.juniorhawks.com.au