Alex's Whitewater Climb for KERPA

Join Us for Alex’s Whitewater Climb for KERPA!

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On Saturday, July 5, from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Rob will be running and hiking laps from the Hummingbird Lodge to the top of the Silver King chair at Whitewater Ski Resort in Nelson, BC. We invite you to join us—take a lap (or as many as you like) to the top of the Silver King chair, stop by to say hello, and visit us at the Hummingbird Lodge for a barbecue. This event is a chance to celebrate Alex’s memory, support KERPA’s life-saving mission, and donate much needed funds to keep this vital service available in our region.

Alex had a deep love for the outdoors—skiing in the winter, hiking and climbing in the summer—and we know he’d be stoked to see friends, family, and new faces out on the mountain. Alex’s Whitewater Climb for KERPA is more than just a day on the hill—it’s a celebration of community, remembrance, and gratitude. We hope you’ll join us in supporting this incredible cause and honouring Alex’s legacy.

Why are we holding this event?

On May 26, 2022, Rob and Alex were in a boat crash on Kootenay Lake. Dr. Nicholas Sparrow, from the Kootenay Emergency Response Physicians Association (KERPA), arrived by helicopter, bringing an emergency room to the shore—complete with an EMS physician and critical medical equipment.

We are confident that everything medically possible was done for Alex, just as it would have been in a hospital. That knowledge brings us a measure of peace. But for Rob, Dr. Sparrow’s care meant even more—his medical expertise, kindness, and exceptional compassion helped save Rob’s life, even though Alex could not be saved. We don’t know if Rob would be here today if not for Dr. Sparrow’s presence that day.

KERPA is a Canadian-registered charity, founded in 2016, that sends volunteer Emergency Response (EMS) physicians directly to the scene of life-threatening 911 calls in the Kootenay region. This service is 100% community-funded—and we need your help to keep it going.

With Whitewater Ski Resort, we’re thrilled to host our second fundraising event to raise awareness and encourage donations for KERPA’s invaluable work. Having lived in large cities, we often take emergency medical services for granted. But in rural and remote areas like ours, what KERPA provides is nothing short of remarkable.

We are incredibly grateful to all the first responders who assisted that day—the 911 dispatch team, the Creston RCMP, and BC Ambulance Service—but our deepest thanks go to KERPA and Dr. Sparrow. Please consider donating to KERPA to ensure this life-saving service remains available for those who need it most.

For more information, contact us at alexswhitewaterclimb@gmail.com