Hundreds Attend “Wil to Walk” Benefit

Five hundred people attended a benefit for a Havertown man paralyzed after he was hit by a car while riding his bike last fall.

The benefit was held for 24-year-old Wil Lawler last Sunday at Casey’s Restaurant in Drexel Hill and raised more than $12,000.

The restaurant was overflowing with supporters, so much so that another room had to be opened to accommodate the crowd.

Lawler’s accident happened at the intersection of Darby Road and E. Marthart Avenue in Havertown last October. He was taken by helicopter to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania with near fatal head and spinal injuries. He spent nearly five weeks in the hospital before being transferred to Magee Rehabilitation Center where he spent almost three months.

“I hadn’t seen Wil in a long time but I wanted to be here to support him,” Rob Ghisu, who attended Haverford High School with Lawler, said.

Lawler’s mother and father, Karen and Jack Lawler, were “overwhelmed at the crowd and the outpouring of support of family and friends” since Wil’s accident.

His grandmother, Mary Lawler, also of Havertown, said, “I lost my daughter to cancer a year ago. I am just glad to have my grandson back, chair or no chair. I’m just glad he’s alive!”

While his’s brain injury has healed, he is confined to a wheelchair with little or no feeling from the waist down. He continues rehabilitation as an outpatient at Magee and with a personal trainer several times a week to work on his upper body strength and to work the muscles in his legs.

Doctors do not know if Lawler will walk again but as he posted on his Facebook page. "… so many people care about me and are praying for me to walk, it (the benefit) was out of control. All those people rooting for me, its not if, it’s just when” (I will walk again.)

The Haverford-Havertown Patch visited  Lawler and his parents at their Havertown home.  Lawler works hard everyday at regaining his strength in the hopes of walking again.

“I prepare for today and hope for the best tomorrow,” Lawler said.

The money raised at the benefit will be used to build a special gym in the garage of Lawler’s home to help him reach his goal of walking again. He is also aiming to get his driver’s license back and go back to college.

When asked what he misses being in a wheelchair, he thought for a moment and said, “I miss being tall.”

Money is still needed to design and build this special gym which is not covered by medical insurance.

Checks can be made payable to “Wil to Walk” and mailed to:
Dennis McClatchy
747 Ormond Ave.,
Drexel Hill, PA, 19026.
215-300-9677.