Injured Racers Association

In July 2011 Charlie Legere was released from the Rehab Center and moved into his new house, built with the help of family, friends and some local businesses. The house was custom built to be accessible for Charlie with widened doorways and halls, low counters, no stairs, etc. Since moving into the new house Charlie and Wife Joanna have been applying what they learned in rehab to helping Charlie continue building his strength and dexterity. With help from the funds raised during the auction organized by the Injured Racers Association in October of 2010 Charlie was able to furnish his home gym with a hand bicycle and rickshaw, among other things designed to help quadriplegics.

Also with help from funds raised at the auction Charlie was able to purchase both a manual and power wheel chairs. The power chair allows Charlie to easily get around outside and on rough terrain, though he prefers to use his manual chair to help with his strength and dexterity so spends most of his time in that.

Charlie and Joanna are adjusting to life in the new house and outside the rehab. They are doing well, and constantly adapting and learning. In November 2011 they took possession of an accessible vehicle, making day to day tasks far easier. The vehicle is a 2010 Dodge Caravan outfitted for wheel chair access. This will

allow Charlie the freedom to get out and around and not have to spend all his time at home.

The family is very thankful for everyone’s support and help thus far.

Just a quick update to keep everyone up to speed on Charlie’s recovery. On July 12^th Charlie was released from the rehab center and allowed to move into his new home. Charlie is pleased to be home with his wife and their animals and they are very happy in their new home.

Charlie has made exceptional progress in his recovery thus far. Currently he is working on his transferring skills which allow him to transfer himself from his chair to a bed, car, etc. Now that Charlie is home he is spending time learning how to do things around the house. He is doing well and enjoying being out of the rehab center.

Stay tuned for a more detailed update in the coming days.

Outpouring of support for injured Charlie Legere.

For immediate release

Halifax, NS A September 6th, 2010 accident saw Beaverbank, NS racer Charlie Legere suffer serious spinal cord and leg injuries. The spinal cord injury left Charlie initially paralyzed from the chest down. What happened in the following days would see family and friends overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for injured Legere and his family.

Mere days after the incident close friends began collecting donations and organizing fundraising events to help Charlie and his family in their time of need. The Injured Racers Association of Atlantic Canada, a non- profit organization, was formed. The goal of the Association is to organize events and provide support to injured racers and their family. Legere will be the first beneficiary.

In the initial days after the crash Charlie had 2 operations on his neck and 1 on his leg, all being considered successful. After roughly one month he had a talking valve inserted and began speaking again. A few weeks later his tracheotomy was removed once he demonstrated he was strong enough to breathe on his own again. Shortly after the tracheotomy was removed his Nasogastric tube, used for administering drugs and feeding, was also removed. Charlie is now allowed small amounts of water and is on a steady diet of soft foods.

Approximately two weeks after the incident, the first of many planned events took place. The local race community pulled together to put on a Track Day with all proceeds going to Charlie and his family. The Atlantic Roadracing League donated the event insurance and all profits, MRTS donated their medical services, Paul MacDonnell donated tow services and Atlantic Motorsport Park donated the track rental. Riders showed up in droves with an estimated 70 riders taking to the track over the course of the day. Combined with donations at the track and food sales, over $8, 000 was raised.

Two weeks later the racing community came together once again to support Legere and his family, this time at Kokomos in Bayers Lake, NS for a benefit auction. The auction was a resounding success with items and things to see and do for everyone. Veronika Larson offered to shave her head if she was able to raise $5000. Carol Little also set a goal to shave her head of $2000, both goals were happily met and both girls lost all of their lovely locks. Colin Neily, a last minute addition offered to have his chest waxed for a goal of $500 or $20 a strip. Colin achieved this goal quite easily and endured a bit of pain for a good cause. At the end of the auction everything was tabulated and just over $43,000 was raised.

The day following the auction Kartbahn located in the Bayers Lake Business Park hosted a 6 hour endurance race with their well known go-karts providing 25% of profits to the injured Legere.

2 months after the crash Charlie is doing really well and has made excellent progress to date. He has regained a lot of feeling and movement in his arms. He is currently in the QEII Health Sciences Rehab Centre after moving from the QEII hospital one week ago. In rehab Charlie will be working towards strengthening and improving the use of what he currently has; as well as regaining the use of systems currently not available to him.