SACO – With a neighbor in need, the residents of north Saco have banded together in a months-long effort to help one of their own.

During a Beech Ridge Motor Speedway Day of Destruction event Aug. 18, Phillip Bowley of Heath Road, 29, drove in the “backwards race” in which participants race their cars in reverse along the track, when he crashed his car into a stack of tires.

The fundraisers for Bowley and his family began last summer with two local farm stands, Grant Family Farm and Leary Family Farm, donated all sales from their respective stands to the Bowleys. The Grant family also organized a bake sale, where neighbors of Philip and the Bowley family could donate baked goods. The two sales raised nearly $3,000 for the family. Phillip has been a longtime family friend to both the Grant and Leary families, having done mechanical work at both farms, and is good friends with Kevin Leary, the oldest son of Leary Family Farm proprietor Tim Leary.

On Jan. 20, Beverly Grant of Grant Family Farm hosted a spaghetti dinner for the Bowley family, a spur of the moment event with widespread support. The event was held at the Saco Pathfinders Snowmobile Club, which donated the space free of charge. All food and paper goods were donated as well, allowing for the greatest donation possible to the Bowley family.

“I’m so happy with the turnout,” Grant said, gesturing to the line of supporters waiting to get food and the full dining room. “It’s been busy like this since before we even opened the doors.”

Suggested donation for the dinner was $10 for adults and $5 for children aged 12 and younger. The sauce for the pasta was made from tomatoes grown on the Grant Family Farm, and Grant herself prepped and froze them in the fall.

Serving the pasta were four members of the Thornton Academy football team, the Class A State Football Champions: Eli Arsenault, Cody Agro, Kobe Gaudette and Anthony Braccamonte. Bowley is a 2007 Thornton Academy alumnus. The four players served food with smiles and jokes, occasionally posing for pictures with the state championship trophy.

Bowley was present for the event with his mother, Cindy, having returned from a rehabilitative stay at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. Bowley chatted with friends and guests and was in good spirits.

“I can’t believe how many people have showed up,” Bowley said. “This is really awesome.”

As a result of the accident, Bowley has an injury to his spinal cord that has left him unable to use his legs with limited use of his right arm. According to Bowley, the cord is swollen, not severed as doctors first feared.

Bowley will continue the long road to recovery at Maine Medical Center, choosing to remain in Maine as opposed to returning to Atlanta.

Those who wish to donate to Bowley’s recovery can do so by visiting the Philip Bowley GoFundMe page.

“It’s amazing when the community comes together like this. I am so thrilled that everyone came out tonight,” Grant said. “They’re a great family, and they deserve all the help they can get.”

Contact Staff Writer Abigail Worthing at news@inthecourier.com.