COAL GROVE – A large crowd with good hearts donated more than $4,000 to a Coal Grove family who face continuous medical bills after the mother – Ona Colley – suffered a head injury after a minibike accident.

Thursday, February 17, 2000

COAL GROVE – A large crowd with good hearts donated more than $4,000 to a Coal Grove family who face continuous medical bills after the mother – Ona Colley – suffered a head injury after a minibike accident.

But more is needed if the family is expected to weather this tide of unfortunate events, which has ended with the father – John – losing his job at Intermet Ironton Iron, said Ranita Mullens, organizer of a benefit gospel songfest for the family.

"The girl who had the accident and I grew up together," Mrs. Mullens said. "We went to school together. After the accident, I just prayed about it and thought of what I could do to pull the community together to help the family out. And I organized the songfest."

The money raised, $4,008, will help offset many of the family’s medical expenses that are not covered by insurance, but more is needed.

The accident occurred Dec. 26, and Mrs. Colley has just now been moved from the Intensive Care Unit of King’s Daughters Medical Center, but still remains in a coma.

"Since the accident, there’s been some improvement," Mrs. Mullens said. "They did have her on a ventilator. But they could use all the help they could get. It’s been (more than 50) days she’s been in the hospital.."

The community has done a lot, even more than was expected, Colley said.

"We haven’t gotten the hospital bills yet, but I’m sure the money raised is going to help out fabulously," he said. "My insurance should pay about 80 percent, but it will still be a pretty big hospital bill. I couldn’t believe the response the songfest had. It was overwhelming. It was great. Everyone just pitched in and helped with everything."

Not only did local community members attend the event and give offerings, but the local businesses also donated items to be raffled off, Mrs. Mullens said.

And the performers also donated their time and talents.

Some of the talents present were Tony Dilley, Diana Huff, Randy Patrick, John Stevens, Pete and Janelle Ross, Pleasant Valley Singers, For His Sake, Brad Jenkins, Joe Craft and Tommy Lynne Blankenship.

And if anyone else would like to contribute to the Colley family, a fund has been set up at Ohio River Bank, she added.

"Anyone can make deposits to the Ona Colley fund," Mrs. Mullens said.