Loved Ones Raise Money for Southington Teen in ATV Accident

Those who know and love 15-year-old Ryan Catlin are stepping up to help support his recovery less than two months since a life-changing accident.

“Ever since then it's touched us the whole town has come through,” Catlin's great aunt, Diana Beaudoin, said.

Beaudoin is blown away by the outpouring of support since the teen was paralyzed in an ATV accident in late July.

Jodie Derwin, a family friend, jumped in to help organize a fundraiser to help with the family’s medical expenses. Catlin is still recovering at an Atlanta hospital, Derwin said his family will face even more expenses when they return home.

"Not only does he need a cost for the everyday care, he's going to need his house addition built on because he's going to have a wheelchair that he needs five-foot radius to be able to move around," Derwin said.

Derwin helped organize the pasta dinner for Catlin. Money from the ticket sales will go to the family, along with about $14,000 from raffle prize bids.

"It's not an accident where you break your arm and you're going to be better in six to eight weeks this is a lifelong thing that's going to be for this family this is their life now," Derwin said.

Beaudoin confident her great nephew will make a full recovery with the support that’s already pouring in.

"Everybody's rooting for him because he's going to do it he is," Beaudoin said.

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