‘It’s time to give back to George’: GoFundMe set up for Riders legend

George Reed gave his all on the field for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Now a Regina man is looking to help the CFL legend after Reed’s time on the field has left him with mobility issues well into retirement.

Eric Johnson, who is the owner of Smokin’ Okies BBQ, said he has been friends with Reed and his wife, Angie, for more than a decade. The legendary Roughriders fullback is often a patron in Johnson’s restaurant.

“They’re doing fine. I see them two to three times a week and they’re doing fine. George just turned 80 and I’d like to see him more mobile and not have to suffer as much as he does getting around. It’s painful to watch and we want to help him,” Johnson told the Green Zone with Jamie and Wheels on Wednesday.

According to the GoFundMe page set up by Johnson and his wife, Reed underwent two back surgeries that kept him in the hospital for two months and then at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre for three months.

Reed spent 13 seasons with the Roughriders, rushing for 16,116 yards and 134 touchdowns in his career. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

Reed has been a fixture in Saskatchewan since his retirement, helping with many different charities throughout the years. The Roughriders and the City of Regina renamed a section of street outside Mosaic Stadium as George Reed Way in November.

“George has been the best ambassador for the CFL and the Riders that anybody could ask for,” Johnson said. “He’s always there, always happy to sign autographs and I’ve even seen him at fundraisers for other people, people with cancer.

“It’s time to give back to George.”

Johnson said he asked Reed for permission before starting the GoFundMe campaign and indicated Reed was on board with it.

“At the moment, what he needs is a custom knee brace that’s going to help him get around with his walker. Anybody that has seen him at the games or in the city out and about might have noticed that he has a really hard time getting around,” Johnson said.

“Down the road (the Reeds) are going to need help maybe at home. Mobility stuff is expensive. He would like more physiotherapy than he’s getting right now. There’s a number of things that he might need.

“Anybody who has been around George can tell that he still has the will to fight. He wants to be mobile and get out and we certainly want to see him out at football games as much as possible.”

Johnson said if the campaign can reach its $50,000 goal, it would greatly improve Reed’s quality of life.

“It’s going to give him the ability to have whatever treatments he needs and whatever equipment he needs. That’s the main thing,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Reed has loved being in Saskatchewan after moving back more than a decade ago and still wants to be an active member in the community.

“He wants to be here and he believes that he can walk again with the right help,” Johnson said, “and that’s what we want to see.”

The Roughriders issued a statement on the campaign Thursday.

“We are, as always, in awe of the generosity of Rider Nation and think it’s amazing that fans have chosen to rally around George Reed in this way,” the team wrote.

“George is such an important part of the history of the Saskatchewan Roughriders both for what he’s done on and off the field. Throughout the years, the club has privately worked with George and Angie providing a variety of support. We also support all of our Roughrider Alumni through our partnership with the Rider Alumni Association.”