Alford family receives donation

  • L-R: Rebecca Wilson, daughter of Darren Alford; Barrett and Kierston Tuel, owner of Giant Subs and Oconee Wild Watersports; Cathy Tuel, manager of Giant Subs, and Terry Tuel. IAN TOCHER/Staff
    L-R: Rebecca Wilson, daughter of Darren Alford; Barrett and Kierston Tuel, owner of Giant Subs and Oconee Wild Watersports; Cathy Tuel, manager of Giant Subs, and Terry Tuel. IAN TOCHER/Staff
  • Darren Alford
    Darren Alford

    The family of injured Putnam County Fire Department Battalion Chief Darren Alford visited Farmers & Merchant Bank in Eatonton last Thursday, where they were presented with a check for $2,500 donated by Giant Subs at Oconee Wild Watersports.

    “We really appreciate the generosity of everyone at Giant Subs and Oconee Watersports,” said Alford’s daughter Rebecca Wilson, who works at the bank. “My dad is doing so much better now, too. In fact, he just came home (from being hospitalized) yesterday,” she added.

    Wilson accepted the donation from Giant Subs at Oconee Wild Watersports owner Kierston Tuel, who was accompanied by her parents, Terry and Cathy Tuel, and her young son Barrett.

    Alford was injured while working a part-time job on March 11 at Reynolds Lake Oconee and had to be emergency airlifted to the Grady Burn Center in Atlanta. 

    An online GoFundMe account (gofund.me/864847f7) was established and quickly surpassed its initial $5,000 goal, but the fund remains active to continue supporting Alford and his family while his recovery continues.