Pictured (L to R): Nell O'Connell; Scott Street, Chamber President; Kristopher Hazard; Rebecca Jordan, Chamber Member; Sharon Hazard; Kassandra Hazard; Jeff Hazard; Mike Tollefsrud, Chamber Member (Photo Credit: Nell O'Connell)

 

“Dancing Through Life”
Wears Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Helps Local Accident Victim

The Wears Valley Area Chamber recently held a benefit dinner  for a local gentlemen Kristopher Michael Hazard who was involved in a head on collision. Mr. Hazard was traveling on Wears Valley and was hit by a gentlemen who had been drinking, ran a stop sign , was driving on the revoked list, was uninsured and fled the scene of the accident. He had severe damage to his eye and his orbital socket which required a steel plate to reconstruct his eye. He also broke his nose and had damage to his eye muscle. Reconstructive surgery and two hospitalizations added up to bills over $40,000.00 Mr. Hazard was unemployed at the time this all occurred and had no medical insurance to cover the extreme expenses. Kristopher is the son of Jeffrey and Sharon Hazard and sister of Kassandra of Wears Valley.  The Hazard  family had been struggling to pay for Kristophers’s care, visits to the doctors and medicine. The Chamber of Commerce heard about the families plight and decided to pitch in.

Some of the Chamber members contributed $400.00 to help get Kris back and forth to his doctor appointments and pay for costly medicine. Family and friends also donated blood. Two Chamber members were instrumental in making the dinner event a huge success; “Wright Stuff Catering” provided the food and “Cove Creek RV Resort” provided the facility and banquet room. The family was there taking tickets and thanking individuals along with several of the Chamber members and they raised $2,515.00 for the young man.

The Hazard family sends it’s heartfelt thank you to all who helped and are proud to say that in all 26 years of living  here they are never more blessed  to  be  in such a wonderful community. Kris is recovering nicely and after performing in Smoky Mountain Opry Christmas Spectacular just landed a job with the folks from “Dancing With the Stars!”