By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Plainville community has rallied around a local family who experience two tragedies in the matter of three months.
Plainville native Brandon Werner, the son of Rick and Karen Werner, was in a car accident near his home in Colorado. He was thrown about 90 feet from the vehicle and received a severe head injury, said family friend Rhonda Wolf. Brandon suffered two strokes, which left him partially paralyzed on his left side. He has also experienced difficulty with his speech.
Brandon, who is in his 30s, had no insurance, so his mother and father moved to Colorado to care for him.
Friends conducted a series of fundraisers for the family, including a soup supper that raised more than $7,700 in two hours.
“The Plainville community has been totally amazing,” Wolf said. “They sure come out like crazy to help their people.”
On March 23, Jeremy — Brandon’s younger brother — was in involved in a multiple motorcycle crash in Atlanta at the American Flat Track Races. He was paralyzed from the chest down. Jeremy is currently in rehab at Craig Hospital in Colorado, about an hour and a half from his brother.
The doctors are unsure of what Jeremy’s final prognosis will be.
He has a bruised spinal cord that has been labeled a “complete” injury. Spinal cord injuries take six months to a year to heal.
“He has regained stable sensation in his right ankle, so time will tell, but the family and community are hopeful,” said Kylee Shae, Jeremy’s girlfriend.
Jeremy works for Stahl Products in Plainville, and Wolf said the company has gone out of its way to help the family during this crisis.
Karen, a nurse, has had to take leave from her job to help care for her sons, Wolf said. Rick Werner works in the oilfield and has someone temporarily filling in for him.
Friends of the Werners are selling T-shirts and other items, proceeds of which are going to help the family. More information on these items can be found on the WernerStrong Facebook page.
On Saturday, the Free Tomorrow Motorcycle Club is sponsoring the Friends of the Werner Family Benefit Run. The poker run will begin at Westins in Stockton. Registration will be from noon to 1 p.m. Start time will be 1 p.m.
The first hand will cost $15. Additional hands will cost $5 each. The run will go from Westins in Stockton to Lucky Lady in Osborne to Roadside Park in Luray to Fossil Station in Russell and will end at the Burgers and Beer in Plainville. The special at the Burgers and Beer Saturday night will be prime rib.
All vehicles are welcome. Last vehicles need to be in by 5 p.m.
To make monetary donations, send them to Jeff Miller, 800 S. Broadway, Plainville, KS 67663. Make checks payable to Rick Werner.
For more information, contact Rusty at 785-302-0070 or Gary at 785-543-1874.