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Fund-raiser planned for RunTex employee in coma
The Austin running community is rallying around RunTex employee Justin Gabriel, who suffered a head injury after falling 20 feet into a creekbed near his apartment on Sept. 16.
No one realized Gabriel had fallen until he was found 14 hours later.
Gabriel, 26, remains in a coma, but has shown a few signs of recovery, like opening his eyes for a few minutes and squeezing his hand. He has been moved from Brackenridge Hospital to Texas NeuroRehab Center.
His co-workers and friends miss him, and have organized a fund-raiser to help defray his living and long-term medical costs.
The “Run for Justin” fund-raiser starts at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 at RunTex, 422 W. Riverside Dr. A concert by Gary Clark Jr., one of Gabriel’s favorite musicians, will follow the untimed 2-mile walk/run around Lady Bird Lake. Items from some of Gabriel’s favorite businesses, including Magnolia Cafe, Jack and Adam’s, and RunTex, will be raffled.
Register here. Cost is $26.99 but more can be donated.
Nearly all of the money raised will go directly to Gabriel’s family. RunFAR will make a $2 donation for every online registration.
“Justin lived for running,” says RunTex owner Paul Carrozza. “He also cares so much about the running community and loves to cover it with his videos. He will return.”
Packet pickup is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, or 7 to 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 at RunTex.
Gabriel ran at Hays High School in Buda and at Adams State College in Colorado. He won the Texas Roundup 5K in April, with a time of 15:46.
Richard Martinez Jr., a co-worker at RunTex who helped organize the fund-raiser, says Gabriel got him interested in running years ago. “If you wanted to get involved in running, he was guy to go to because he’d keep you motivated and keep pushing you.”
Sarah Mark, another RunTex co-worker, says Gabriel likes live music, writing and being the center of attention. “He’s just really outgoing,” she says. He recently got interested in cycling, too.
A website has been set up with updates on Gabriel’s condition here.
Speedy recovery, Justin!
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Comments
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By Sol
October 13, 2009 4:11 AM | Link to this
Didn’t Runtex provide insurance to it’s employees?
By Kay
October 13, 2009 8:46 AM | Link to this
Thank you for posting about this! Runners in Austin who’ve come into contact with Justin in the RunTex store or who have trained with him all hope for the best for his recovery. Come out and Run for Justin!
And Sol, even with insurance the bills pile up. Most insurance covers 80% of a hospital stay leaving the rest to the individual. You can imagine that after these weeks since the fall, Justin’s portion of the medical bills is already extremely high. FYI.