Friends, family, and neighbors are coming together this Saturday, Aug. 16, to support Buckhannon resident Gary Hershman as he continues his recovery from a life-altering work accident earlier this summer.
The fundraiser will take place at Buckhannon-Upshur High School, with activities beginning outside the football stadium at 4 p.m. Community members can set up yard sale booths and donate the proceeds to the Hershman family. A cornhole tournament will also be held in the parking lot, with a $20 entry fee per team and single-elimination play. Winners will receive a plaque and a $50 gift certificate from Firehouse Dawgs.
Prevention Resource Officer Dewaine Linger will be grilling food, available for purchase by donation.
On June 12, Hershman was involved in a work-related accident that resulted in emergency brain surgery to relieve swelling. His niece, Jordan Hart, described him as “a place of love, comfort and solace for our entire family, the true definition of a family man.”
“When he was first involved in the accident, we weren’t sure what his life was going to look like or if he would have one,” Hart said. “It was very touch and go with him being intubated, on antibiotics, and losing most of his neuro responses.”
Since then, Hershman has made significant progress. After receiving long-term acute care at Mon General Hospital, he was transferred to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He has since regained mobility on his left side, begun speaking, and is working to restore movement in his right side.
“Even in the state he is in, he still ensures that he gives Donna [his wife] kisses and shows his love in every way he is able,” Hart said. “We are hopeful that he will be back home to his favorite country roads in no time, with the brightest future ahead.”
The family says the outpouring of support from the community means the world during what has been an incredibly difficult journey.
“Gary has been a pillar that holds us up,” Hart said. “He has gone above and beyond, not only as a husband and father but also as an uncle and great uncle as our family continues to grow.”
To sign up for the cornhole tournament, email jordan@jwcarpenterdds.com or taylor.stacy@k12.wv.us. Yard sale participants are asked to take any unsold items home at the end of the event.
