BIKEIOWA NOTE: Jared was on his 3000 mile cross-country tour Astoria, Ore., to Ocean City, N.J., on July 25 to raise money for the nonprofit For Pete's Sake Cancer Respite Foundation when he was hit and paralyzed by a Michael Vondrak, 29, of Merill who was distracted by a passanger in his truck.

The family has also set up a GoFundMe site to help with Jared's medical expenses.

READING, Pa. - Hundreds of people turned out at the Oakbrook Brewing Company in Reading on Wednesday for a fundraiser that benefited a local cyclist.

Jared Fenstermacher of Mohrsville set off this past summer on a cross-country bike ride to raise money for the organization, For Pete's Sake, which helps cancer patients.

The ride came to an abrupt stop in Iowa on August 11, when Jared was hit by a truck. The accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.

After spending a month at a hospital in Iowa, he's been recovering at Magee Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia.

Wednesday's fundraiser was organized by a group of cyclists in Berks County. Jared's family said it is overwhelmed by the outpouring of emotional and financial support.

"I can't even tell you want it means to our family and just to have the support," said Lauren Fenstermacher, Jared's sister.

"The truth is that anytime you go out on the road on a bike, I mean, this could have been any of us," said Kevin Kelly, who helped organize the fundraiser. He met Jared 10 years ago while cycling.

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