When he was 18-years-old, Kevin Trahan, now 51, suffered a rig accident that changed the course of his life forever.
Trahan, who used to live in Ponoka, was pulled into a spinning oil rig kelly and he is dealing with compensation issues and painkiller addictions since then. To help Trahan out, a group of individuals are hosting a fundraiser to help get his life on track.
Organized by Wendy David, the event is called Brother’s Keeper and will be held at the Stagecoach Saloon Saturday, April 25. David says support has been strong.
“People came out of the woodworks,” said David.
Community members have donated artwork and other items for a silent auction and David has created a Facebook event under the same name as the fundraiser. She says the biggest goal is to help Trahan improve his quality of life.
Because of the accident, Trahan has had issues with his arms and legs and the use of painkillers has made things worse, said David. She hopes to raise $8,000 to get him into a facility that will help him deal with the effects of the painkillers.
“We’re trying to get him into some physical therapy,” she said.
For her, the focus is on Trahan and improving his life. “There’s something about the man that everyone loves.”
Tickets for the event, which starts at 7 p.m., are $30 and will be on sale at the door.
“My goal is to pack the house,” she concluded.