FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Nearly two hundred people attended a charity event at Black Jack Harley Davidson in Florence Saturday afternoon.
The charity benefits a Florence County Paramedic injured in a crash this year.
Tessie Odom-Smith is a Florence EMT crew chief. She was hurt after a head-on collision with an impaired driver in March. She went through several surgeries including an amputation of her right leg.
Howe Springs Fire Chief Billy Dillon came up with the idea of the “Tessie Strong Charity Ride” to help the family with her recovery.
Chief Dillon says this charity event will help raise money to build the family a new home since their current home can’t be replaced.
Dillon says since Tessie has been released from the hospital, her family has been living with her mother, since their home is not wheelchair accessible so building the family a new home will help them to get back to their normal lives.
Tessie’s husband Scott Smith says while the road to recovery isn’t easy, he appreciates everything the community is doing to help Tessie get back strong.
“Just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has shown love and support for us. We’re going to move forward and just try to make the best of a situation that was put on us and just try to live our lives to the best we can,” mentioned Smith.
Chief Dillon says all of the money raised will go towards building the family a new home.
Dillon says his hope is to break ground on the family’s new home the first week of October.
