News

Help Heal Cullen

Updated Friday, March 08, 2013

Written By: Tanja Rekhi

HORSEHEADS -- [WENY] It's been a week since the deadly car accident in Millerton took the lives of Ryan and Karen English. Their two sons, and Karen's son from her first marriage survived the crash.
     Twelve-year-old Cullen McWhorter remains in a Rochester hospital with injuries. I spoke with his father, Randy McWhorter, who came from North Carolina to be at his son's side.
     "Cullen's going to need his brothers and his brothers are going to need him for this healing process emotionally," said Randy. "I'm not leaving his side until he's ready to go home leave the hospital and even then I'm still going to be there for him until I feel like I can return to North Carolina."
     Randy says he and his ex-wife, Karen had a great working relationship after their divorce and Ryan English was just as much a father to Cullen as he was to his own children.
     "I always thought I'm so glad Cullen has Karen and Ryan because I thought if anything ever happened to me that they would have my son and would be taken care of," said Randy.
     Cullen isn't able to eat solid food yet and has several cuts from his seat belt and damage to his digestive system and small intestine. Doctors say he'll be in the hospital for a month.
     "He's such a tough cookie it's a lot to deal with for an adult, let alone a 12-year-old boy. I couldn't deal with things the way he's dealing with them," said Miranda Rice, Cullen's aunt.
     Cullen's father is taking unpaid time off from work and has worries about hospital expenses. Fundraisers for him and Cullen, along with separate ones for the three boys' for trust funds have been set up.
     For now, Cullen and his siblings will be staying with their grandparents in Elmira.
     A raffle with donated items will be held at the Jackals game at First Arena on March 22 at 7:05 p.m. There will also be a memorial Gala on April 20th at Tag's restaurant in Big Flats. The entrance fee is $25 a person, $35 for a couple and $50 for a family of four.
     Below are some links to help heal Cullen and you can also send cards to him to our station c/o Cullen McWhorter 474 Old Ithaca Road in Horseheads and we'll make sure they get to him.

Here is the link for the fundraiser for Randy and Cullen: www.gofundme.com/heal-cullen-mcwhorter

Here is the link for the trust fund for the three sons:
http://www.gofundme.com/27ommo