Brian Weigert, owner of an eventing stable in Canandaigua, N.Y., was severely injured in October when he was struck by a pickup truck while standing in his own driveway.

Noticing sheriff’s deputies gathering at the home of his neighbor, who was out of town, Weigert went outside to investigate the situation.  Moments later, the car thief for whom the officers were searching ran over him with the stolen vehicle.

Weigert was pinned underneath the truck.  His shoulder was broken in several places, and his spinal cord was crushed, permanently paralyzing him from the waist down.

After a 10-hour surgery, he began several weeks of rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center, a catastrophic care facility in Atlanta, Ga. 
A therapeutic bicycle that employs electrical currents to stimulate paralyzed muscles (called a Restorative Therapies RT-300) has proven integral to the progress of Weigert’s rehabilitation; but access to this machine is not available in his home state.

A series of three fund-raising events to provide Weigert with this vital piece of equipment and to support his recovery will began on March 17 with the “Bash.” The next two are the “Buck Off” on April 2 and the “Bike-Run-Walk” on May 7.

“Horsemen have always rallied to help fellow horsemen in their time of need.  Those of us who know Brian know him to be as kind and hardworking an individual as you could find anywhere.  He is worthy of our help and support,” said long-time friend Lynda Robeson.

More information about these events is available at www.3BsforBrian.com, or by contacting Jackie Knopf at jackie.knopf@UAP.com.  Donations are also accepted at all Canandaigua National Bank locations.