Kueper is a volunteer firefighter with the Everett station and was on his way home from training at the fire hall Oct. 21 when he was in a head-on collision. He suffered a broken left arm and leg, a crushed heel, rib injuries and severe bruising. He was recently released from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, where he had reconstructive surgery on his heel and he is now recovering at home.
Because Kueper is self-employed, running a body shop out of his home, he won't have a pay cheque for at least three months. That's the minimum timeframe Kueper's doctor has told him he has to keep weight off his heel.
A fundraiser Nov. 28 at the Lisle Legion is raising money for Kueper and his family to help them out while he is unable to work.
"I'm quite grateful. It's such a good community we live in," said Kueper. "I'm quite amazed and almost speechless with what they've done and what they're doing."
For someone like Gloria Bellamy, who has been on the receiving end of Kueper's generosity, a fundraiser is natural.
Bellamy remembers Kueper being the second on scene when her house burnt down in 2003. The night her husband died, she said Kueper was also the first on scene.
"Tubo actually stayed with me at the hospital for two hours waiting for a relative to get there," said Kueper.
When Bellamy heard Kueper was in a car accident and unable to work, she said she had to do something. As membership chair of the Lisle Legion, she said she immediately started working on when the fundraiser could be arranged to help Kueper and his family.
"As far as I was concerned it wasn't a question of if it would happen, it was a matter of how and when," said Bellamy.
The fundraiser Nov. 28 is at the Lisle Legion Branch 559, 8439 Main St., Lisle. It will be a drop in from 1 p.m. until close with food, games and raffles throughout the day. A dance will start at 8 p.m. with live entertainment by the band Big John. Dance tickets are $10.
For more information on the fundraiser call the Lisle Legion at 705-424-6879 or Bellamy at 705-796-0706.
