Fundraiser for North Reading Resident Jared Coppola Sunday

North Reading resident Jared Coppola suffered a paralyzing neck injury four years ago during an on-field collision at a St. John’s football game, according to a Boston.com article. He fractured his fifth cervical vertebra, and his life has not been the same since.

Now 20-years-old, he is studying at the University of New Hampshire. As part of his rehabilitation, he goes into Boston for three-hour workouts at Boston Medical Center and to Canton to workout at Journey Forward, a nonprofit that specializes in spinal cord injuries, the Boston.com article said. He travels in a mobility-equipped Ford Focus with hand pedals to control the brakes and accelerator, the article said. 

The Beyond Therapy program in Atlanta was where Coppola originally went after the accident, when he was unable to take any steps on his own. Last week, he took four steps, the article said.

However, insurance doesn't cover the rehab facility in Atlanta, and Coppola would like to continue going there.

So, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Coppola's aunt is holding a fundraiser at St. John’s Prep in Danvers to raise funds so he can continue to attend The Beyond Therapy program. 

The suggested donation is $100, which will pay for one hour of therapy in Atlanta. He hopes to spend two months there this summer, the article said.

“My goal is to be able to walk on my own and be able to stand up unassisted,” Coppola said in the article. “If I can do that and gain overall strength and endurance, those will be milestones that will help my confidence moving forward.”