Frank Gilbert, front, spends time with friends Ross Johnston, left, and Joe Myers, right, while recovering from his injury at the The Shepherd Center in Atlanta. (Photo Provided)

The Ohio Valley will unite to push Frank Gilbert to the finish line of recovery from partial paralysis during Sunday’s 5K Run and Walk to raise money for the Glen Dale resident’s medical bills.

Gilbert, who is known in the community for his DJ work, suffered brain and spinal cord injuries a year ago after a fall from scaffolding while painting a neighbor’s house. After the accident, Gilbert was left partially paralyzed from the neck down.

With Gilbert’s treatment costs reaching $20,000 per month at The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, his friends and family are calling on the community to fund the final months of his treatment after his insurance coverage ended in July.

Sunday’s fundraiser at St. Jude Park in Glen Dale will include a 5K Race/Walk, music, food and raffles. Race sign-ups will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the race will commence at noon.

Tickets for the event are $25 per person and include soft drinks and one meal.

Gilbert’s brother Donnie Gilbert recalled not believing his brother would survive after the 30-foot fall. After months of recovery at the rehabilitation center, Gilbert can hold up to 70% of his body weight.

“From last year to this year, his transformation has been amazing,” Donnie Gilbert said. “I thought he would never be able to talk again after the accident, and now he’s almost walking.”

Donnie Gilbert hopes his brother can fully support himself by September or October. He noted that the proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward funding this final push in recovery.

The Glen Dale nonprofit Kathy’s House has stepped up to organize the fundraiser, with co-director and friend of Gilbert Jane Criswell.

“He’s just worked so hard his entire life to get to the point where he could retire this time of last year,” Criswell said. “Right after he retired, this accident happened, so he’s not even been able to enjoy his retirement.”

Donnie Gilbert added that his brother had been a “very active guy and always on the go” before the accident. Gilbert enjoyed playing softball, football and basketball before the injury.

Beyond Gilbert’s DJ work, Donnie Gilbert noted that his brother was also active in the community as a Comcast salesman and a baseball coach.

Gilbert’s involvement in the area has already been reflected in other fundraisers to pay for treatment. Donnie Gilbert said at least 1,000 people attended the fundraiser held last August for his benefit, and he hopes Sunday’s event will boast an even greater turnout.

Criswell added that the goal of the fundraiser was to raise “as much money as possible” to keep Gilbert in the Atlanta facility long enough for him to walk out of the rehabilitation center.

“There are not only medical expenses that need to be covered, but his wife Melissa has to stay down there with him because she helps him with the rehab,” Criswell noted.

After seeing his brother make substantial progress, Donnie Gilbert hopes the fundraiser will help his brother walk once again and enjoy life “to the fullest.”

“He’s been very positive through this entire recovery, and to see him holding up 70% of his weight is already miraculous,” he said. “The goal is to get him to that 100% and walking again.”