While one Kenai Peninsula woman is having a rough year, members of the community are doing their best to ensure she has a smooth recovery.
This year, Ninilchik resident Lara Rogers-McGinnis has been involved in two major car accidents.
On January 2, the single mother of two was involved in a three-vehicle collision near Homer while she was driving with one of her sons. There were only minor injuries that day, but the driver’s side of her car was badly damaged. She said it was fortunate, because it meant that her son in the passenger seat was relatively unharmed.
She credited her son for being brave in the face of adversity.
“He was stellar,” she said. “He was a hero that day.”
While the first accident could have been worse, Rogers-McGinnis is currently in the hospital after being involved in another crash earlier this month.
On March 16, as Rogers-McGinnis was driving near mile 50 of the Sterling Highway, an oncoming vehicle lost control on the icy highway, resulting in a head on crash, according to the Alaska State Troopers report. The accident left Rogers-McGinnis with broken extremities and several other serious injuries that required surgery.
Rogers-McGinnis, who has served as the executive director of the Kenai Peninsula Fair, has since received an outpouring of support from people around the peninsula and the country. A gofundme.com crowd-sourcing account, where people can donate money, was set up to provide financial support for Rogers-McGinnis as she recovers.
While the online fundraising account has only been running since March 17, it has been lucrative.
As of Saturday, more than $10,500 had been raised from more than 120 donations. Rogers-McGinnis said the support has been humbling. She said the money will allow her to recover without adding extra stress to one of her main focuses — the Kenai Peninsula Fair, where she has worked for more than a decade.
“[The support] means everything,” she said. “For the last 10 years, I’ve devoted my life to my boys and the fair.”
The account was created by Rogers-McGinnis’ friend, Anita Johnson.
“She’s got a sweet heart,” said Rogers-McGinnis. “Her doing that means that I can completely take the time off that I need.”
While Rogers-McGinnis is appreciative of being able to take some time to recover, she is still eager to return to doing what she loves – working at the Kenai Peninsula Fair.
“I have to get back,” she said. “We have our fundraiser on April 24.”
For more information, visit: http://www.gofundme.com/p2j4dk
