Fundraiser To Help Lily Putnam, OCHS Student Who Was Hit By Car

OAK CREEK, WI — Lily Putnam was one of two Oak Creek High School who were hit by a car in September 2018.

Lily's family says her life will never be the same after the accident, and that they have been working to help Lily have a better life.

"Everyday things that we take for granted that we do day in and day out are no longer an option for her to do," Steve Koch said. "Although she continues to surprise family and friends with her increased alertness and small physical responses she remains nonverbal physically unable to care for herself."

Since the accident, Lily has needed constant care, family says.

Now, the family is hosting a fundraiser in order to raise money for in-home healthcare that insurance won't cover. The family also wants to get her into some rehabilitation programs to try and kick start some more purposeful responses, they said.

The #Lilystrong Community Fundraiser will help toward that end, her family says.

The event will be held Saturday, Aug. 3 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the American Legion Post 434, 9327 S. Shepard Ave. in Oak Creek.

The event will feature a number of raffles, a bake sale, music, refreshments and activities for children.

For More Information

You can read more about the fundraiser here.

Earlier this year, members of the community came together to fund a specialized van for the family of Lily - who required a specialized van to transport her wherever she needed to go.

"We currently transport Lily in our vehicles but this requires us to transfer her from her wheelchair to the seat in the car. This does cause some stress for Lily. We want to get a van that we can wheel her in and out of for all transports," Jesse Putnam wrote in a Go Fund Me campaign to help her. "We are not asking for all of it but any little bit helps. I understand this is a lot to ask for and we are very thankful for anything you can do," he wrote. The van costs an estimated $30,000 the family says.

As a result of her family's GoFundMe campaign, the community raised more than $33,000 to help out.

Patch is a partner of GoFundMe.