EAST HAMPTON, NY — In times of trouble, friends rally to support their own.

In the Hamptons, the 1st Annual East End Big Air Kiteboard Competition has been organized to benefit Matt Raynor and Dana Barrett and to help defray expenses related to their recovery from severe spinal cord injuries.

The event, which takes place on Oct. 13 from noon to 4 p.m. in Napeague Harbor, at the end of Lazy Point Rd. in Amagansett, will include a raffle, with all proceeds to benefit Matt and Dana.

A GoFundMe page, “” was created by Jamie Perna for Dana. Born and raised in East Quogue, she suffered a severe spinal injury in an accident on June 30, the page said. After being airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital it was determined she suffered a C2 fracture, resulting in paralysis from the neck down and the inability to breathe on her own, the page said.

Matthew, 29, of Hampton Bays, who worked as a commercial fisherman, was paralyzed in a diving accident near Towd Point in North Sea, Southampton, on April 18. His injuries have resulted in the paralysis of his upper chest through his lower extremities; he now has limited control of his arms and hands, a GoFundMe page said.

But to add to the enormity of the situation, Raynor recently found himself without insurance to cover the costs of a home health care aide, leaving his mother to try to care for her son by herself. The community opened their hearts to help and Raynor now has an aide.

Kiteboarding is an extreme sport that involves a combination of snowboarding, wakeboarding, surfing, windsurfing, paragliding, skateboarding and sailing by harnessing wind power.

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