Fund-raiser to help hit-and-run victim

A fund-raiser for Chris Niemeyer, the victim of a hit-and-run accident last December, will be held at the RockSport Bar and Grill at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 11.

The evening will include a silent auction from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Auction items have been donated from past RockSport staff members and area business owners. Although there is no cover charge, a donation of $5 is suggested. For guests of the RockSport who are unaware of the event going on, posters telling Niemeyer's story will be placed at the entrance.

Niemeyer was hit by a car while walking home along Pacific Highway early in the morning on Dec. 15. He had been out with friends earlier that evening. He was left by the side of the road, where police found him after 3 a.m.

Niemeyer was taken to Harborview Medical Center. He suffered extensive injuries, including head wounds, three broken vertebrae, a broken shoulder blade, seven broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

After spending two months in intensive care, Niemeyer was released from the hospital in February. However, he is still on disability until he can return to work, which may not be for at least six more months.

An earlier fund-raiser was put on by friends and family in February at Twist Restaurant and Lounge in Belltown. Donations included vacations, massages, bottles of wine, dinners out at local restaurants and sporting equipment. Niemeyer's stepfather, Richard Jacobs, said the fund-raiser was very successful.

The fund-raiser and friends' efforts have helped Niemeyer and his fiancŽe, Reanna Channer, up to this point. However, Channer gave birth to the couple's first child, Ryder Oliver, on June 18. The addition to their family means an added strain on their finances.

"The goal of this fund-raiser is to bridge the gap between now and when Reanna goes back to work," said Jacobs. Employees at Channer's office have donated vacation days so she has been able to stay home with Niemeyer and Ryder.

Niemeyer was one of the RockSport's first employees when it opened 12 years ago. Darren Ahlf, owner of the RockSport and longtime friend of Niemeyer, said when Niemeyer was single he was a "chick magnet" and brought in a lot of business.

"He has a great personality. He's very hardworking and very personable," Ahlf said.

Niemeyer was trying to get into the real estate industry and was only four days away from taking his license test when the accident happened.

He is still suffering from traumatic brain injury, which is like a major bruise on his brain, according to Jacobs. This injury causes memory loss. Although more is becoming known about traumatic brain injury, most survivors don't get all of their memory back; the return is usually in the 95-percentile range.

Although this injury requires a long-term recovery period, Niemeyer has started taking practice tests for his real estate license; Jacobs says he hopes to take the test in the near future. About seven weeks ago, Niemeyer even regained his driver's license.

The fund-raiser will continue all evening until the RockSport closes. Families are welcome to come until 9 p.m., after which time state liquor laws require underage guests to leave. A DJ will arrive at 9:30 p.m. and stay until closing time.

Niemeyer will be at the restaurant for the event.

"We want people to know why we're doing this," said Ahlf. "It's a chance for them to talk to him and see how he's battled to survive."

Holly Gordon is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory and may be reached via wseditor@robinsonnews.com