NEWS

Hamilton Red Wings forward Riley Dunda (photo credit - Michael DiCarlo/OJHL Images), who recently suffered a stroke and is currently recovering at Hamilton General Hospital, is fighting back by raising money for the Hospital's Foundation Stroke Program.

 

Dunda is a native of Grimsby, Ontario who has played the last two seasons in the OJHL with the Georgetown Raiders, Burlington Cougars and most recently, the Hamilton Red Wings.  He finished seventh on the Wings in scoring with 22 points in 46 games played this past season.

 

Dunda, and the #FIGHTRILEYFIGHT twitter hashtag, has continued his fight by hoping to raise $150,000 in support of the Foundation's Stroke Program.  To support Riley and his fight, please CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

 

Below is an article written by Glen Cuthbert in today's Hamilton Spectator (www.thespec.com) as Riley celebrates his 19th birthday today:

For any hockey player, it's always a big deal to get a tweet from their favourite NHLer. However, for 18-year-old Riley Dunda, it came at a price. 

"It was really cool, but at the same time, you don't want the thing that caused it to happen," Dunda said. 

That "thing" was a stroke, suffered on the morning of May 3 while watching TV at his family's home in Grimsby. Dunda, a forward with the Ontario Junior Hockey League's Hamilton Red Wings, remembers few details of the day his life changed forever. 

"I was asking myself 'What's going on?' because I couldn't move any of my body, and everything was just slowing down." 

Riley's stroke was caused by a tear in the lining of the carotid artery in his neck. This allowed a blood clot to make its way to his brain. He was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. On the way, his father, Richard Dunda, had some special words for him. 

"Before he went in for surgery, I whispered in his ear, 'You have to fight,'" Richard said. "As his dad, I'm letting him know that he can't stop, that he has to keep fighting." 

From those four words, a hashtag was born. #FightRileyFight has been used by thousands of people, from peewee teams to Riley's favourite player, Mike Richards of the Los Angeles Kings. 

"The third day (after Riley's stroke), we opened up his phone, and he had about 500 Twitter notifications and about 600 texts. It was unbelievable to see all that support and all those positive messages," said Riley's brother Liam, a first-year player with the OHL's Plymouth Whalers. 

That support hasn't stopped since, showing just how tightly knit the hockey community can be. 

"We didn't think it would be like this. It brought tears to our eyes," said his dad. 

Riley said that knowing there are so many people supporting him gives him extra motivation on his long road to recovery. 

"The hockey team is really backing me up. When you have Mike Richards and Jack Johnson and Trevor Lewis and Jeff Carter and everyone (supporting you), you'll do anything you can (to get better). Having those guys push you really means something." 

Chicago Blackhawks forward Matt Carey was one of the NHL players who reached out to Riley. He says if a player needs support, it doesn't matter what level he plays at. 

"It's important for former and current NHL players to reach out to a personal situation like this. It shows that (other) players are behind him every step of the way, even if we don't know him on a personal level," Carey said. 

Cory Conacher of the Buffalo Sabres adds that those words may just be the little extra push that Riley needs. 

"With our support it gives him that much more drive and pushes him to make that comeback. If we let him know that we're on his side, then I think his recovery is going to be a lot quicker," Conacher said. 

That motivation has spurred Riley to make amazing progress in his rehabilitation. Immediately following his stroke, he lost the use of his right side, including his right arm and leg. He has since regained limited use in both, and is holding on to the dream of getting back on the ice next season, an idea that once seemed impossible. 

"I'm going to have to push myself really hard, but I want to do it, so I've got to do it," Riley said. "Whatever excuses I might have, I don't have them, because this (stroke) doesn't stop you from doing anything, it just makes you (have to) go harder." 

Liam has faith that Riley's fighting spirit will one day get him back on the ice. 

"I know my brother better than anyone, and I think if he really puts his mind to it, and if he keeps going the way he's going, I think it's possible for him to be back in a pair of skates." 

Riley isn't just trying to get back on the ice, he's also using this opportunity to  help other stroke patients. The Dunda family hopes to raise $150,000 to support enhanced care for stroke patients at Hamilton General Hospital. 

Conacher said that he's impressed with how Riley just keeps on fighting. 

"He's going to prove a lot of people wrong in his recovery, and that's what we're all hoping for."

CLICK HERE for story link.