Since 2005, Oakfield resident Jeff Kitanik has been paralyzed from the waist down, yet he has maintained an active life and continues to run his construction company, according to friends.
There's one thing that will help make his life better, those friends say: a standing wheelchair.
To that end, friends have organized a fundraiser for Kitanik from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday, at the Oakfield Fire Hall, 20 Albert St., Oakfield.
The event will feature a chance auction, craft and rummage sale, bake sale and face painting. There is a $5 admission, which includes 25 raffle tickets and door prize entry.
The wheelchair costs $18,000.
A representative of the Standing Chair Company of Saginaw, Mich., will attend Saturday's event.
Friend Rebecca Martin said the chair will provide Kitanik, who is father to five children, with several benefits.
"There are many medical benefits of standing," Martin said. "Among other things, it maintains bone density, assists in healing of pressure sores, increases blood flow and helps maintain good blood pressure. It also helps the digestive system work properly, which has been a major concern of Jeff's since the accident. It won't help decrease pain level, or at least we don't think it will, but it will increase his quality of life immensely."
The chair is manual, which makes it lighter and easier to get in tight places, such as a construction site, but it also assists in keeping his lungs healthy.
Kitanik, known to friends as "Tru-Cut," and his wife, were involved in a serious auto accident Sept. 30, 2005.
"Still, Jeff holds his head high," Martin said. "He continues to put family first and runs his own construction business. Anyone who knows Jeff would tell you he holds all of the positive attributes we all strive to achieve and uphold."
To make a donation for the auction or purchase tickets, contact Donna at 948-8253 or Heather at 409-4605.
