After the terrible news of Nathan Stapleton suffering a spinal injury playing rugby for Boorowa, bush footy was rocked with another awful injury two weeks ago when Andrew Regan suffered a broken neck playing for the Orange Emus.
Regan, a popular clubman, husband and father, suffered the injury playing in second grade for the Emus and after being airlifted to North Shore Hospital Sydney, he was diagnosed an incomplete quadriplegic. He is paralysed from the chest down.
Regan posted on social media he is staying focused on making as much of a recovery as possible and those who know him say the endurance runner will be fighting hard for wife Jessie and 12-month-old son Gus. And there are few more supportive places than country rugby.
But in another heartwarming sign, a GoFundMe page was established on Wednesday to help raise money for what are likely to be huge costs for long-term care and recovery, and as of Thursday evening, almost $190,000 of a $250,000 goal had already been raised. You can donate here.