Norge Fundraiser To Support Man Hit By Car While In His House

FOX RIVER GROVE, IL — A fundraiser will be held this weekend at Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove to help benefit Angelo Pleotis, a Crystal Lake man seriously injured when a car crashed through his house this past summer.

The fund-raising event, which kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, will include ski jumping; tennis ball races, where attendees can purchase a ball and see if it is the first to make it down the hill; food and drink, including a "mega Bloody Mary bar;" and live music. There will also be a silent auction with autographed sports memorabilia and bounce houses for children.

Live music will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will include entertainment from Last One Standing, Grey Matter, Poison Lips, Danny Vintage and Kevin Mileski. An entrance fee will be $20, and includes food served at the event. Kids are free.

All proceeds and donations will go directly to Pleotis and will be to help pay for his recovery.

On July 27, a car driven by Connor C. Kirkpatrick, 27, of Crystal Lake, ran into Pleotis' Crystal Lake home in the 100 block of Heather Drive, hitting him and trapping him inside. He was free from the wreckage and flown to Advocate Condell Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

He suffered collapsed lungs, broken ribs, head trauma, lacerations and two spinal fracture/dislocations, which caused paralysis, according to a GoFundMe set up for him by his family.

The GoFundMe has brought in more than $92,000 to help pay for his medical expenses.

His family also helped to organize the fundraiser at Norge. The family has been frequenting the local ski jump business for more than 30 years and received full support from Norge owners when they requested hosting the event, according to Shaw Media.

“We’re just trying to find a way to help my dad,” Phillip Pleotis told Shaw Media. “We don’t know how long this rehab will take. There’s a lot of moving parts. But we want to make sure he can live comfortably, or as much as he can.”

More via Shaw Media and Angelo's Road to Recovery Facebook event page

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