A fundraiser for a Whistler man who suffered life-changing injuries in a ski accident has raised more than $100,000 as friends, family, and the local community rally to support his long recovery.
Chris Song was seriously injured on January 28, 2025, in a skiing accident that left him with multiple broken ribs, a fractured left shoulder, and a severe back injury that resulted in paralysis from the waist down. He was airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), where he underwent multiple surgeries.
Song, a beloved ski and bike instructor in Whistler, is expected to remain at VGH for approximately two months before being transferred to GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver for extensive therapy. His rehabilitation is expected to take at least a year, and doctors have confirmed he will not regain the ability to walk.
The fundraiser, organized by family friend Donna Kerr, aims to assist the Song family with the financial burden of medical expenses, accessibility modifications, and daily necessities. Song and his wife, Jieun, have been part of the Whistler community for nearly a decade, raising their two young children in the mountain town.
“Chris is known for his kindness, patience, and dedication to his students,” organizers wrote on the fundraiser page. “This is our chance as a community to support him in the way he has always supported others.”
Funds raised will help cover the cost of a wheelchair and home modifications to ensure accessibility when Song eventually returns to Whistler. The fundraiser will also support his wife and children financially as they adjust to a new reality. Whistler residents have a long tradition of coming together in times of need, and this effort underscores the strength of the community’s support for one of its own.