The Team Jigger Foundation will soon have a new home in Lacombe to promote accessibility, health and wellness in the community.
Team Jigger Founder Jason Lunn, who suffered two vertebral fractures at C6 & C7 along with a spinal cord injury after a motor vehicle collision in 2011, came up with the idea for the Foundation and it’s new space when he was at physiotherapy.
During that time, Lunn noticed an elderly lady who was having to go to long-term care due to her inability to do much more than move from her bed to her wheelchair. Through physio, Lunn saw the woman go from that point to eventually being able to leave the hospital on her own feet, with the help of a walker.
The transformation inspired Lunn to want to create a community space where anyone wanting to be more active can do so.
“People can access equipment, information on where to get stuff — all to give people information on how to keep healthy,” he said.
During his own journey, Lunn noticed the extensive costs of equipment and resources and figured the Team Jigger Foundation can be a way to bridge the gap for people in order to get them the help they desire.
“If you have the dream and drive to get better, there is stuff out there that will help you,” he said. “The dream of mine is to make that happen for people who feel like they can’t do it. I am fortunate enough to be able to access the equipment, which is fairly expensive. If we can do it as a Foundation and a community — that is what we are going to do.”
So far, the response to the Foundation has been overwhelmingly positive — with the Lacombe Kinsmen Club hosting a fundraiser earlier this year. Lunn said raising that type of community awareness is pivotal.
“Whether that is businesses wanting to make their businesses more accessible, or the City creating more accessible sidewalks or streets — there are ways to do things to ensure it is accessible for every body,” he said.
Team Jigger is currently working on their next Fundraiser Chair Aware, which will ask the community to raise funds and also rate buildings on their accessibility. A date for the event has yet to be named.
“They will also have places to go int he community in the chair and rate the accessibility. It will be a fun thing and raise some money at the same time,” he said.
Team Jigger’s new facility is located on HWY 2A and will soon have the go ahead to begin developing the interior of the their space.
More information on the Team Jigger Foundation can be found at https://www.teamjigger.com.
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
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