As radio sales veteran Gord Kidder remains in a coma in the Czech Republic, the broadcast community is rallying to raise funds to have him airlifted back to Canada.
Gary Slaight, president and CEO of Slaight Communications, and former CHUM Group chairman Jim Waters, have offered to match further donations to a gofundme page set up for Kidder, to a maximum of $30,000.
Kidder, a partner in Muskoka Information Radio (CIIG-FM) Gravenhurst, ON, and former account manager at CHUM and Newstalk 1010 (CFRB-AM), was in Europe in early April to take part in ceremonies around the 75th anniversary of The Great Escape. The trip was made in honour of the uncle he is named for, a POW at Stalag Luft III during WWII, who was one of the men captured and shot in the infamous plot.
Kidder was on his way home and in the airport when he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage.
After two surgeries, he remains in the Intensive Care Unit in a Prague hospital.
With no out-of-country or private health insurance, Kidder’s medical expenses continue to mount. Thus far, the gofundme page has raised $65,000 of a $115,000 goal. The plan is to transport Kidder back to Canada as soon as possible.
Bill Herz, the former SVP of Sales for Standard Broadcasting, who worked with kidder at CFRB, says friends and colleagues are trying to get the word out to as many people as they can.
Herz said as of today, Gary Slaight and Jim Waters will match dollar for dollar all donations until the target is met.
“They’ve been very supportive. When I contacted them and said we need some help, they both stepped up to the plate. They’re both very generous,” said Herz.
“If at all possible, we’d like to get him back home within the next week or week and a half. We just need everybody’s help.”
Find more info on how to donate to ‘Get Gord Kidder Home’ here.
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