Australia `Survivor' visits burn victims

Jeff Varner says he loves children.

And the former competitor on the television show "Survivor II: The Australian Outback," showed that love Thursday afternoon as he blew bubbles, took pictures and chatted with patients at the N.C. Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill.

A UNC alumnus and former cheerleading captain, Varner said he has always supported children's charities and now wants to extend his support to burn victims. "I've been a children's advocate since I was 1 (years old)," said Varner, a Greensboro native.

A serious burn injury to Michael Skupin, one of Varner's team members and close friends on "Survivor II," made him realize the pain that burn victims and their families must endure.

"That was a very traumatic day for us," Varner said. "I heard his screams in my sleep for three days."

From the time he learned he was to appear on "Survivor II," Varner has tried to use his celebrity status to help various causes. As part of his charity work, he brought a coloring book and crayons to Australia as his only luxury items. "I wanted all the survivors to color and autograph their pictures," Varner said. "This way I would have a body of work to auction off for a charity."

Varner said talk show host and "Survivor" fan Rosie O'Donnell will help him auction off the book in about one month. "I think it will make lots of money," he said.

A large portion of the money earned from the sale will probably go to organizations that help child burn victims, such as those at the burn center, Varner said.

K Teague, division manager for the burn center, said Varner has been extremely active in his efforts to help. "He contacted me before the 'Survivor (II)' show ever appeared on television," she said.

In the past, other celebrities such as racecar drivers Jeff Gordon and Jeff Bodine have visited the burn center, as well as many UNC basketball and football players, Teague said.

She said the personal visits from celebrities, and the television cameras that often accompany them, provide a great morale boost for the victims and staff alike. "When people come in and pay attention to them, it makes a difference," Teague said.

Varner discussed Skupin's recovery story to lift the spirits of one teen who had been burned in a bus accident. "(Skupin's) doing great," Varner told the boy. "He's got no scar, and he's so positive."

Brian Craft, a 19-year-old victim of a motorcycle accident, and his mother, Tammy, both took away autographed pictures with Varner as a souvenir. "Yeah, I'm excited," Craft said. "He's a TV star."

A visit to 4-year-old Willie Acord's room left Varner covered in bubbles and Acord smiling widely. Varner brought a suitcase full of coloring books for the hospital, and he let Acord take his pick.

"He's so sweet," Varner said. "This is such a moving experience."

But don't get your hopes up, "Survivor" fans. Varner might be a humanitarian, but he's not revealing who'll leave Australia with the $1 million.

 

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.