Fundraiser And On-Line Voting For Drew Cumpson

May 02, 2013

In May 2011, Drew Cumpson, a Sydenham High School graduate and current student at the University of Guelph, became a quadriplegic after a freak body surfing mishap while he was volunteering in Lima, Peru.

This Saturday May 4, Drew, along with his family and friends will be hosting a fundraiser at the Frontenac Community Arena near Godfrey from 7pm 2am. Three local bands: Bauder Road, Still Standing and Killing Time will be performing and the event will include a silent and live auction offering up to bidders a plethora of top-notch items donated by local businesses and individuals. These include a signed Sydney Crosby jersey, tickets to a Taylor Swift concert, an ice fishing hut, a brand new chainsaw plus a wide range of gift certificates and themed baskets and much, much more. Tickets, which cost $20, will include a buffet at 11pm.

Proceeds from the event will go towards funding the accessibility features in what will soon be Drew and his family’s new home in Westbrooke. The Cumpson family will be moving into the new home, which is being built especially to accommodate Drew, who now uses a wheel chair and head apparatus to maneuver through his everyday life. The special features of the house will allow Drew to access special controls for lights, television, doors, an elevator, audio visual equipment, his computer and phone.

Drew’s parents, Heather and Jim, hope to move into the new home on May 10 and Drew will be moving in soon after once he gets his home care in place.

In addition to the upcoming fundraiser Drew is also taking part in the current National Mobility Awareness event, which is offering up three brand new accessible vans to the individuals that acquire the most on-line votes. Drew is six feet tall and he hopes to acquire one of the new vans, which have larger door openings.

“Right now I am having major issues with getting in and out of the van that I use and the new van will definitely solve those problems,” Drew said when I spoke to him by phone earlier this week. He said he plans to donate his old van should he win a new one.

Currently Drew has amassed 13,000 on-line votes but hopes to see that number increase to 20,000 before the deadline, which is fast approaching on Friday May 10. Drew's supporters can vote for him once a day up until the May 10 deadline by visiting the website at www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/localheroes and typing in Drew's name in the local heroes search bar. Supporters will find on Drew's on line page a video of him speaking of his accident and his life since. Answer the skill testing question and Drew will receive an extra vote from you.