Hundreds of Upper Main Line families turned out to the Swedesford Road McDonalds for “Dinner and a Car Wash” to benefit the Logan Schweiter Fund Wednesday night.
Logan Schweiter is the 12-year old boy who was rescued ten days ago after he and his two friends jumped into a swollen creek in Radnor Township. Two of the boys were able to get themselves out of the rushing water. Logan was swept hundreds of yards downstream, pulled under by the current in a torrential downpour. He was pulled from the water by a trauma doctor who just happened to be walking his dog near the creek and was in the right place at the right time. Schweiter has been in a coma since being admitted to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on July 25.
As word of Schweiter’s tragic accident spread through the area, so did local support, evident in the line of families, friends, neighbors and classmates, who attended the night’s event.
Local businesses like Wayne Sporting Goods and Competitive Edge Sports donated gift certificates that were raffled off during the fundraiser that was hosted by the Niggeman family, owners of the Valley Forge McDonalds in Berwyn.
“We have collection bins at the front and we’re also donating profits from the food tonight,” said McDonald’s Owner and host, Dave Niggeman. “Anything we can do to raise money.”
It was Niggeman’s wife that came up with the idea for a car wash, but it their daughter Gabrielle, a 17-year old Conestoga High School student, that helped to spread the word to the Conestoga High School Lacrosse Team.
The Pioneers were hard at work outside, collecting donations and washing cars in the rain.
“I just put [the fundraiser] out on facebook, to see how many people we could get and it turned out really well,” said Brody Shea, an 18-year-old senior and goalie of Conestoga High School’s Lacrosse Team. “All these guys are Conestoga Lacrosse.“
Carol Devol, a neighbor and friend of Logan’s grandparents was there to show her support by having her car washed, in the rain. “My heart is right there,” she said. “It could have been my grandson.”
An account has been set up at the Lancaster Avenue Bank of America in Wayne, to help Schweiter’s family with the cost of his care. Donations are being accepted and checks can be made out to Logan Schweiter.