GoFundMe Page Set Up To Help Popular Young Man Griffin Russell Has Already Exceeded Target
PETERBOROUGH– A life-long friend of a Peterborough man, critically hurt in a car crash in Northwestern Ontario this spring has every faith that his buddy will make a full recovery.
Jarvis Scott, 23, of Peterborough was speaking about his friend Griffin Russell. According to a GoFundMe page https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-russell-family-after-devastating-accident set up to help him and his family, Griffin suffered catastrophic injuries on April 23 near Marathon, Ontario when the vehicle he was a passenger in left the road and struck a rock face.
According to friends, he was headed to Kamloops, B.C. to plant trees and had found another planter to share the driving on the long tour. It was reported that it was the other man who was driving when the crash occurred while Russell slept in the passenger seat.
Russell, who spent the last school year at McGill University in Montreal, is currently in hospital in Thunder Bay after being transferred there from Marathon with numerous devastating injuries.
“I was pretty shocked when I heard about this. Like many friends, you often drift apart a little bit after a while. But he’s always been my neighbour and I was very upset to hear that this has happened to him,” Scott said. “His parents have had to go up there so there is a financial burden. But Griffin is a strong, smart guy and if anyone can pull through this – it is Griffin.”

Photo by John McFadden
Scott, who has experienced his own family tragedy said that as jarring as this is, he knows full well it can happen to anyone at any given time.
“It’s all part of life is what I have learned,” he said.
The GoFundMe page was set up by Lindsay resident and family friend Sharon Robbins. She told Kawartha 411 News this is the first time she has ever initiated a fundraiser like this.
“It became evident right away that Barb and Dave (Griffin’s parents) were going to have to be away for a while. Because Griffin’s situation was so uncertain, I thought it was the right thing to do. We don’t know where Griffin will eventually end up but we do know his parents will be away for quite some time,” Robbins said. “I have been overwhelmed by the response. I just randomly set a goal of $10,000 but that was met in a day and a half. So we reset the goal at $30,000 and that has now been exceeded.”
As of May 16, $38,450 had been pledged on the page by 212 donors.
Robbins said it is her understanding that Griffin was placed in a medically induced coma and currently remains in intensive care in critical condition.
Kawartha411 tried without success to reach Dave Russell. But he and his wife Barb did comment on the GoFundMe Page. “Griffin suffered multiple injuries. He fractured his skull along with his right orbital bone. He broke his femoral neck and his right ulna and radius, left ulna, and right tibia. He has sustained severe brain trauma and his recovery is a mystery. We know brains take a very long time to heal, and rehab could take years,” they stated.
“Many people have reached out and asked how they can help. The love and support we have received is palpable. The donations to this GoFundMe campaign will help cover some expenses that insurance does not. We were so grateful when this idea was presented to us by multiple people, overwhelmed. Your consideration itself is empowering. Thank you.
Barb, Dave, Lily, and Griffin Russell”
Barb, Dave, and their daughter, Lily, have set up a blog to keep everyone appraised of Griffin’s changing condition. You can log on at http://updatesforgriffinrussell.wordpress.com/