PROCTORVILLE — The night sky in Proctorville was awash with the lights of more than 400 runners Friday who showed up for a special 5K run to help out a family going through challenging times.

John Paul Kelley of Proctorville was recently in a swimming accident that has left him paralyzed from the chest down. He is currently at the Shepherd Center, a spinal cord injury rehab center in Atlanta, Ga.

Friends of the 30-year-old Kelley organized Light Up the Night JPK 5K Glo Run, the first of several fundraisers to help out the family with medical expenses and handicap remodeling of his home.

Registration was $25 per runner and those proceeds were added to the donations of 80 sponsors.

“It just shows how much the community supports people,” Commissioner Freddie Hayes said. Hayes is a longtime friend of Kelley, who is married and has a 4-month-old daughter.

“One who knows him are coming to help him and ones who don’t are getting together to show their support,” Hayes said on Friday. “He has always been active. It is just a shame.”

Kelley’s employer, C.F. Reuschlein Jewelers is having a Rolex Raffle. Rolex donated a Rolex watch to raffle and the jeweler, is also donating a diamond pendant. Tickets are $50. Backyard Pizza and Raw Bar is having a night with 20 per cent of proceeds going to the Kelleys on Aug. 24.  There will be a golf scramble on Sept. 28 at Twin Silos in Lavalette with $75 for a person or $300 for a team.

Donations can also be made at any Fifth-Third Bank.