Richard Morrison with wife Shelia and children Jessa and Johnny.

A real estate sales rep who broke his neck playing hockey needs your help.

Richard Morrison, 47, fell while playing recreational hockey with friends in Burnaby, B.C. on April 21. He is paralyzed from the chest down and will never walk again.

Morrison was working with Sutton Group – West Coast Realty in White Rock. “Rich is self-employed and does not have a safety net of savings or insurance,” says friend and Realtor Brent Silzer, who works at the same office.

“The accident has been devastating for Rich, his wife Sheila, six-year-old son Johnny and four-year-old daughter Jessa. Rich is facing at least a year of recovery, further medical treatments, major costs and a dramatic permanent change to his and his family’s life.

“The Morrison family badly needs help and I am asking for your help. They are great people who are handling this adversity with admirable grace, class and strength.”

Silzer is urging Realtors to visit www.richardmorrisonfund.org to learn more about the family and Richard, and to make a donation. A trust fund has also been set up at CIBC. Donations can be made at any branch – the trust account number is 87-40836 and the transit number is 02920.

The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board has donated $1,500 and several fundraising events are being planned.

“The injury is very fresh so it’s very difficult to understand the full scope of what has transpired physically and how he will recover short term and long term,” says Silzer on the website. “We know it’s as serious as it gets and we know we need to help. We need to demonstrate that we are now there for Rich and his family.”