There is a long recovery road ahead for Marianne Currie.
The 19-year-old Red Deer native was severely injured last week while on vacation in the Dominican Republic when she fell 4.5 metres (15 feet) from a balcony.
She suffered two fractures in her spine and had to be taken to hospital in the Dominican Republic, where she remains.
To help her with her recovery costs, her employer, Colette Cyr, has started a fundraising campaign.
“I found out about it Thursday morning,” said Cyr.
Cyr owns Cyrious Liquor, at 6858 50th Ave. in Red Deer, where Currie works.
Cyr posted on the store’s Facebook page that Currie had fallen and she would be setting up a fundraising can at work. In response, a liquor company, Drink Mary Jane’s, offered support.
“I just wanted to raise some money for her,” said Cyr.
Drink Mary Jane’s saw the post and offered help. For every bottle of Mary Jane’s Primo Hemp Vodka and Mary Jane’s Premium Hemp Gin sold at Cyrious Liquor in February, the company will donate $3 to Currie’s recovery.
While Currie’s treatment in the Dominican Republic is being covered by insurance, Cyr knows her employee and friend will have a long road to recovery.
“They didn’t know if she was going to be able to walk again,” said Cyr. “She’s slowly starting to regain feeling, but she still has no feeling in her feet and in her waist. She’s going to go through months of rehab.”
Currie has worked at the liquor store since the summer and Cyr said she is a great worker.
“She’s a breath of fresh air,” said Cyr. “One of those amazing people you don’t want anything bad ever happening to.”
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com