BUFORD - It may have been decades since he coached them on the hard court, but the women who once played for Buford High School's girls' basketball coach haven't forgotten him in his time of need.
Candace Baggett played for Coach Gene Durden when he worked in Dade County, and she said she and some other former players have created a website for the Durden family following a motorcycle accident that seriously injured the coach's 21-year-old son.
"We've established a site, it's friendsofthedurdens.org, just to reach out to people maybe outside of the Buford community, where it's not as easy to drop off donations and maybe come by and see the family," said Baggett.
Authorities said Devin Durden was riding his motorcycle on Georgia Highway 20 last week when an SUV pulled out in front of him near Gavel Springs Road. They said the accident severed his spinal cord.
Baggett is hoping the website will help bring in donations that will help the Durden family as they incur necessary expenses as a result of Devin's injury.
"They are going to be in the need of a van, modifications to their house and things like that," she said.
Baggett said they've received roughly $1,400 in donations so far from people all across the country, including other women who were coached by Gene Durden and from Devin's classmates at the Air Force Academy.
"This is something that the family is faced with every day," Baggett said. "It's a tough road ahead, and they need as much support and prayers as possible."
Durden had been home from the Air Force Academy less than 24 hours when the accident occurred.
Tuesday
April 16th, 2024
2:38PM
