BOWEN, Ill. (WGEM) -- Mike Gooding fell from his roof last May and ended up paralyzed from the waist down. He is restricted to a wheelchair and is living in a nursing home. The medical bills from surgeries keep piling up.
On Saturday afternoon, hundreds of Gooding's family and friends turned out for a benefit to help him through the most difficult time of his life.
"There are people from everywhere here. I don't know how far they have come for the benefit, but it's great," said longtime friend Ron Smith.
The Southeastern Elementary auditorium in Bowen, Illinois was packed with people, there to help a loyal friend. It was the first step, they hope, in getting Gooding back on his feet.
"With this crowd here, it's nothing like I expected. I knew there would be lots of people but maybe not this many," said Anne Goudschall, Gooding's friend.
Gooding is thankful for all the support from the community. "It's just amazing. It's a lot of people I haven't seen in eight months," said Gooding.
Gooding may be in a wheelchair now, but he says just wait a little while.
"I'm planning on walking again, though it may be a year or two," said Gooding. "I'll walk one way or another."
The benefit raised almost $25,000, which will go towards medical expenses.
"It's fantastic. I just can't thank people enough. I don't know how I could ever repay all these people," Gooding said.
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