ST. GEORGE — On April 17, Jonah Tuttle was injured during a longboard accident in Snow Canyon State Park that led to his being flown out of the park and put into intensive care. On Saturday, an audience of more than 600 people filled the darkened auditorium of Snow Canyon High School for the “Wake up Jonah” fundraising event featuring a dance performance from Kalamity & Kaos Krew.
When emergency responders arrived in Snow Canyon State Park on April 17, Tuttle was found lying unconscious in the Upper Galoot Picnic Area of the park. Life Flight transported him to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George.
Tuttle spent the first month in intensive care. Less than a week ago, he was moved to a Special Needs Unit at Dixie Regional Medical Center, close family friend Deni Fisher said.
The Wake up Jonah event was set up to help pay for medical expenses and included a bake sale, T-shirts, bracelets and other items to be sold.
The evening also included a dance show featuring Kalamity & Kaos Krew. Kalamity is a professional contemporary hip-hop group that performs with its sister group of students dancers, Kaos Krew. Each year, Kalamity & Kaos Krew choose a “Kause” in the local community — usually families in need from a medical crisis — that they support through shows and fundraisers.
Kalamity & Kaos Krew volunteer Christy Gordon said that all proceeds from ticket sales to the dance show — which cost $5 — were donated directly to the family.
Gordon added that Kalamity and Kaos Krew Dance Company recently became a nonprofit organization, which will allow them to help even more and to support those in need.
The Santa Clara Hungry Howies contributed to the cause by selling pizza by the slice, with all proceeds excluding food costs also being donated to the family, Hungry Howies’ general manager Thomas Krafczyk said.
“We aren’t making any money on it,” Krafczyk said. “We are just recovering food costs, and giving everything else to the charity.”
There was an enormous amount of support for Tuttle during the evening’s activities, and despite the injuries he sustained, many close to him believe that Tuttle will not let any limitations prevent him from being happy, Fisher said.
“Jonah’s successes may be different,” Fisher said, “primarily because he never judged success by winning a game, or being the smartest, or having the most. … Jonah found happiness in bringing people together.”
Tuttle graduated from Snow Canyon High School in 2012, served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and played for the Dixie State Rugby Team – currently identifying itself “Team Tuttle” in a show of support on the team’s Facebook page cover photo. Tuttle played with the team until his accident in April.
“We want to thank everyone who donated their time, money and talent,” said Alison Snow, a volunteer for Kalamity & Kaos Krew. “Kalamity was honored to dance for the ‘Captain’ and the Tuttle Family.”
Friends of Tuttle have also set up a GoFundMe account to help the family cover medical expenses. Interested patrons can also donate to a bank account in Jonah Tuttle’s name at any Wells Fargo Bank. Daily updates on Jonah’s condition can be found at justwakeupjonah.com.
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Many gather at the "Wake up Jonah" fundraising event held in the auditorium at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Santa Clara Hungry Howies supported the fundraiser by donating all proceeds less food costs to the family, Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Tables set up where candies and goodies were sold to support the "Wake up Jonah" fundraising event held in the auditorium at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Dixie State University’s rugby team performing on stage at the "Wake up Jonah" fundraising event held in the auditorium at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Kalamity and Kaos Krew headlined at the "Wake up Jonah" fundraising event held in the auditorium at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Tuttle's Dixie State Rugby teammates, Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Baked goods, candies and other sweets sold to raise money for the "Wake up Jonah" fundraising event held in the auditorium at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Bracelets printed with "Just wake up Jonah" sold at the "Wake up Jonah" fundraising event held in the auditorium at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Dixie State Rugby team that Tuttle played on before the accident, Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
T-shirts were sold to raise money during the "Wake up Jonah" fundraising event held in the auditorium at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Over 600 people attended the "Wake up Jonah" fundraising event held in the auditorium at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Bracelets printed with "Just wake up Jonah" sold at the "Wake up Jonah" fundraising event held in the auditorium at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
The grand finale on stage during the "Wake up Jonah" fundraising event held in the auditorium at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, May 21, 2016 | Photo by Cody Blowers, St. George News
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cody Blowers was raised in South San Francisco, California. A 2013 graduate of Colorado Technical University, Cody earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in paralegal studies. Through the course of her academic studies she discovered that writing is her true passion, and she is committed to providing credible, integrated news coverage. Cody joined St. George News in 2015, and when she’s not busy chasing the news, she can generally be found chasing her young granddaughter, Kali.