The community has responded in a big way to assist a former employee of Sandpiper Gardens &Glass, whose daughter was seriously injured in Cambodia.
Sandpiper owner Gunnell Borge started a campaign on behalf of Billy Page, her longtime friend, after Page’s daughter Jesse Lynn March fell three storeys off a balcony while on a lifetime dream trip through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam that quickly turned into a nightmare.
“It was slippery, it was wet, it was totally an accident,” Borge said of the Sept. 18 incident.
March’s fall was broken by landing on a motorcycle that ultimately saved her life.
Borge said Page, who now lives in Victoria, worked at Sandpiper for five years and “she comes back and helps out once in a while.”
March was admitted first to the intensive care unit of a hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with several fractures and internal bleeding before being transferred to a Bangkok, Thailand hospital where she’s remained the last 10 days.
At this point, March has undergone two surgeries and faces a long period of recovery.
“I bet she’s got another month in Thailand,” Borge indicated. “If it’s less, it’ll be a miracle.”
Borge sprung into action to help her friend by setting up a GoFund Me page. Those contributions plus individual cash donations have amounted to about $18,000 so far.
“All of us are impressed with the amount of fantastic support they’ve given to Jesse and Billy,” added Borge.
“The money that’s being raised is going to pay for medical bills and to make sure Jesse can recover.”
A fundraising dinner at the new Thai Pinto Cuisine restaurant on Maple Street arranged for next Tuesday, Oct. 10 is already sold out at $25 per plate.
“It’s going to be a great night,” said Borge of the event that includes a silent auction, with all proceeds helping further with medical expenses.
March is a 31-year-old First Aid responder from Fort St. John who had been travelling the last four months in Asia before the trip was horrendously cut short. Her mother rushed to be by her side.
The GoFund me page can be accessed at https://www.gofundme.com/jesses-emergency-health-fund.
“Jesse has a long road to recovery ahead of her and we need your help to get her home,” noted Borge. “Please light a candle and send your love and positive energy on to someone who has always given so much to others.”