A GoFundMe page has been established for the Guelph man who was struck by a vehicle Tuesday while crossing Edinburgh Road in his wheelchair.
Paul Bell, 56, was well known in Guelph for playing Santa Claus at numerous locations over the years and up until the past few years was very active in local theatre.
"He was pretty much Guelph's Santa Claus. Christmas parties, Stone Road Mall, the legion and lots of businesses," said Bell's niece Kelcie Caldwell, who set up the GoFundMe page.
"He was also big in the local theatre scene. He was best known for playing the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz," she said.
Caldwell said Bell suffered a broken hip, femur, tibia and fibia and that he is in the intensive care unit of Guelph General Hospital and being sedated to help him cope with the pain.
"The surgery went well but he will have a long recovery ahead of him," said Caldwell in a phone interview.
She said her uncle lived in the area and was returning home from an appointment at the time of the accident.
Bell had developed mobility issues in recent years, Caldwell said, and had recently got custom footwear and metal supports that helped him walk short distances.
She said he used the wheelchair when he became tired and when he travelled long distances.
His working years were spent as a nurse at St. Joseph's.
The campaign hopes to raise $10,000 to be used to help pay for a new electronic wheelchair, replace custom-made shoes and anciliary costs associated with his wife having to miss time from work and travel back and forth to the hospital and rehabilitation centre.
"We don't know what's going on with the driver's insurance but we know that it can take a long time," Caldwell said, "and there will be some things that aren't covered."
As of noon Thursday the GoFundMe page had raised $1,025 by donations from 17 people in one day.
Caldwell said Bell's wife will have to miss a lot of work and the mobility equipment he used will be needed to help with his recovery.
The incident happend around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday when Bell was struck by a four-door sedan drien by a 50-year-old Guelph woman while crossing Edinburgh Road at Willow Road.
The sedan then partially left the roadway and struck a cement retaining wall on the east side of the roadway.
Police said Bell was crossing within the intersection at the time.
No charges have yet been laid and the investigation is ongoing.
