NORWICH – A benefit for Shawn Witherow will be held August 30, 2015 from noon until 4:00 p.m. at the Howard Johnson's Ballroom.

Shawn Witherow, 38, of Norwich, and a Norwich high school graduate of 1995, was involved in a bicycle accident on June 17th. This accident caused Witherow to be airlifted to Upstate Hospital where he received treatment for a severe spinal cord injury.

Witherow is an avid trail rider on his free time off from working as the Manager for Save-A-Lot, where he has been for 17-years.

“This community has been amazing so far, there has been a lot of support,” said Celeste Bloomingdale, manager at Gus' Steak House and mother of their son Cordell Witherow.

Witherow has since been diagnosed with central cord syndrome, which the recovery time for is approximately one year.

“He is regaining strength and movement every day, but is in need of our community's help,” said Bloomingdale.

The injury left Witherow in a paraplegic state with minimal movement in his limbs for the first couple of weeks following the accident. Witherow has undergone one surgery, but still has a two more scheduled. He has been home for sometime and drives back and fourth to Syracuse a couple of times a week for intense physical therapy. These past weeks he has started going to the local YMCA with his son Cordell and utilizing their exercise equipment for rehab.