Fundraiser takes place Saturday, Feb 28, 6-10 p.m. at the D’ed Dog Bar and Grill (404 Connaught Dr., Jasper)

Champions of an injured former Jasperite are putting together a night of music and celebration to support their friend’s recovery. 

Since falling 40 metres while ice climbing in the United States a month ago, 46-year-old Vratislav (Vrato) Durech has been through multiple life-saving surgeries and intensive emergency treatments. 

And although the most critical elements of his healthcare interventions are behind he and his wife Anet, Vrato’s long-term rehabilitation has only begun. 

“He is on the road to recovery, but the road will be very challenging,” said friend and supporter, Lada Kvasnicka, who visited Vrato in hospital last week. 

In the 30 days since his accident, Vrato has been through an acute, multidisciplinary continuum of care—on both sides of the border. 

After being airlifted to emergency surgery from the base of the frozen waterfall where he fell on January 24, Vrato was in a Grand Junction, Colorado hospital for 11 days before he was air-transferred to Canada. The care he received in the U.S. was life-saving, but without travel insurance that covered ice-climbing, the medical costs that he and his wife faced ballooned exponentially—into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to Lada.

On February 4, Vrato was transferred by air to Vancouver. Complications with his face and jaw surgeries meant he was bleeding a lot. 

“That was a rough one,” said friend Pierre Carret, who flew to Colorado to support Vrato in the days following the accident. “It was very hard for Anet.”  

Since then, Vrato’s condition has stabilized. And now in the Canadian healthcare system, mercifully, his hospital bills have ceased adding up. 

But to help his transition to long-term recovery and rehabilitation, to support Anet—who has been at his bedside every day—and to pay down the astronomical expenses they have incurred, Jasperites are coming together. 

This Saturday (February, 28, 2026) at the De’d Dog Bar and Grill, Vrato’s Jasper friends are throwing a party with local music, huge prizes and big mountain family energy. A premium silent auction and raffle have been supported by dozens of local and regional businesses and organizations. And talented Jasperites will lift the crowd up with a variety of live music sets including Matt Cushing, Marianne Dallaire, Greg Deagle, Koltin Rea and Caution Ave, a band featuring multi-genre musician (and barber!), Joey Angus.

Unfortunately, the people who the fundraiser is supporting can’t be there. Vrato is currently confined to the orthopaedic trauma clinic unit at the Vancouver General Hospital, where doctors will soon perform surgery on his shattered leg. Progress is slow and painful, but positive, Carret said. Recently, Vrato had his feeding tube removed—a huge milestone—and on March 2, he’ll have an electromyography assessment to determine the strength of muscles and nerve cells in his right eye. 

As doctors determine the different paths to best address the long-term physical, cognitive, and psychological impacts of Vrato’s trauma, his friends are reflecting on the processes and people that have enabled Vrato to make such positive progress. 

From the EMS team who would have responded to the initial 9-1-1 call to the paramedics triaging and transporting him to hospital; from the doctors, specialists and nurses in the trauma bays to the technicians and staff determining his injury severity; and from physical therapists and cognitive experts to the occupational therapists and nursing staff helping determine his path forward, healthcare is an entire system, Lada said.

“Surgeons, imaging techs, ICU staff, rehab specialists, nurses…it’s not something you have a good idea of until you see it for yourself,” Lada said.

Now Lada and his Jasper friends want to show Vrato and Anet what it looks like when another team comes together.

“Let’s show Vrato what community looks like,” he said.  

The Fundraiser for Vrato kicks off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 28 at the De’d Dog and a GoFundMe is ongoing for those who can’t make the party.

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com