TJ Lavin & Ty Pinney Benefit and Fundraiser December 3, 2010 - Suite101.com

Last Updated Dec 7, 2010, Published Dec 4, 2010  TJ Lavin & Ty Pinney Benefit
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On Friday night, December 3, 2010 at Vanity Nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, threw a fundraising benefit party to raise funds and show support for BMX riders Ty Pinney and TJ Lavin. Lavin and Pinney were unable to attend because of their injuries from bike crashes. UFC president Dana White hosted the benefit to raise funds for Lavin and Pinney's long-term medical rehabilitation expenses.

TJ Lavin and Ty Pinney, both Las Vegans , BMX riders and friends, were seriously injured in separate bike accidents in October, leaving both in comas at University Medical Center in Las Vegas. TJ and Ty have made progress, but they still have a long recovery ahead of them along with mounting medical bills. "When bad things happen, people scatter. You know, nobody is really around then. I didn't want to be that guy,” White said.

On October 13th, 2010 BMX rider Ty Pinney was seriously injured in a bike accident on the backyard bike course at TJ Lavin's home in Las Vegas; the crash resulted in a severe head injury. One day later, while riding at the Dew Tour Championships in Las Vegas, TJ Lavin crashed during a preliminary run for what was to be his last contest as a pro BMX rider. His crash left him in almost exactly the same physical condition as his close friend Ty. The two friends were both in medically-induced comas, just a couple rooms apart, at UMC’s Trauma Center in Las Vegas. All weekend, Dew Tour BMX riders wore Stay Strong/STY SRG shirts to show their support for Ty and TJ.

Lavin's mother, Bobbi Lavin, is convinced her son was so upset by Pinney's accident that it affected him the next day during the Dew Tour. Good friend and fellow BMX rider Ryan Nyquist expressed the same viewpoint: " I feel like that was really on his mind when he competed. It can't not affect you." Both Pinney and Lavin crashed while attempting nac nac jump combinations, lost control, and were unable to get their feet back on the pedals to recover and land.

Las Vegas and the action sports community came together with friends and supporters to gather for a benefit at Vanity Nightclub. Money was raised at the event with a $25 entry fee, VIP table reservations and donations, along with items donated for auction; 100% of the money raised will go to the TJ and Ty Recovery Fund.

Travis Barker, of Blink-182 donated a set of drums to be auctioned. Other goodies up for grabs included a day at Rob Dyrdek's skate mecca "Fantasy Factory" and private lessons from Philadelphia Phillies Shane Victorino for the highest bidders. Alli Sports donated an all-access Winter Dew Tour weekend getaway and NBC donated an all-access Lake Tahoe weekend, including a VIP package to the American Century Classic golf event.

TJ Lavin and Ty Pinney UpdateCurrently, Pinney remains in a rehab center in Las Vegas recovering from his injuries, while Lavin has been attending outpatient therapy. Lavin will return to hosting the "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" show on MTV, but was advised to avoid riding BMX bikes and motorcycles for a year. "He's kicking butt. When I talk to him, he's all there: memory and everything. He's the same old TJ," said Lavin's friend and fellow BMX dirt pro/ dirt shaper Tim 'Fuzzy' Hall. Lavin is expected to make a complete recovery.

Lavin has been riding professionally since he was 19 and rose to fame in the early years of the X Games, where he won three X Games titles in the 1990s, earning the name "King of Dirt." Since then, Lavin has been an aggressive competitor on the Dew Tour Circuit and has been a TV host for 10 seasons of MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge. The Dew Tour Championships was to be Lavin's last contest as a professional before retiring.

Ty Pinney is an artist, amateur BMX rider, and a graphic designer for Lavin's LavsLab company and along with Lavin, is a RawVegas.tv host . Pinney is also the founder of the popular Las Vegas clothing brand, The Horror Project, which sponsors various innovative events at Las Vegas nightclubs.

Following the December 3 event, an extensive collection of prize packages, memorabilia, and collectibles will be auctioned off on eBay. All proceeds from December 3 through January 3, 2011 will benefit the Foundation.

The Heal Ty Pinney site also has options to get cool stuff like The Horror Project "Broken but not Beaten" shirts and gorgeous photos of Pinney in action by The Big Tom Project.

“Take it slow and go your own pace,” has always been Lavin's advice to young BMX riders, and both Pinney and Lavin will continue to do just that as they recover.

Copyright Leigh Roche. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.