Fundraisers and Local Businesses Rally to Support Families Hurt in Stryker Sports Complex Crash

Fundraisers and businesses in Wichita and elsewhere in Kansas are collecting money for those affected by the deadly collision at Scheels Stryker Sports Complex, where a truck drove onto a field and struck spectators watching youth soccer games from the sidelines.

Six-year-old Cole Adrian and 35-year-old Nicholas Schafer, both of McPherson, were killed. Ten other children and adults were injured. Authorities are still investigating why the truck left its parking space and drove onto the field at about 3:25 p.m. Saturday. The vehicle was occupied by a 34-year-old Garden City woman and two of her children.

Among the online efforts, Meddys Holdings LLC has teamed up with the nonprofit Kingdom Athletics Mission to raise money for the victims' families through a GoFundMe page titled "Supporting the McPherson Families Through Kingdom Athletics." Meddys is also giving 20% of all revenue from its Wichita and Salina restaurants through Oct. 24 and offering free meals to victims' immediate family members while they are hospitalized.

Two other GoFundMe campaigns focus on the family of Nick Schafer. One, called "Support Nick & Ashley Schafer's Family," is open to the public. The other is run by the Mac Wrestling Club, a youth wrestling program in McPherson, under the title "Mac Wrestling Club Rallies for the Schafers."

In the Wichita area, Affordable Painting plans to donate 10% of its proceeds to affected families through Nov. 15, and its owners said on Facebook they will match that with an additional 10%. Family members needing support can call or text 316-254-9788. The Wichita Turbo Tubs, a Double-A baseball team, is giving all proceeds from in-person sales at its team store at Equity Bank Park this week to victims' families as part of a "Stryker Family Giveback" event, and is taking online donations through Oct. 23.

McPherson businesses are also taking part. The Haunting at Black Creek will donate $5 from every admission ticket sold Oct. 24. The Locker Room Nutrition & Energy will give 30% of all sales and all cash and card tips this week, and it is selling raffle tickets for donated prize baskets, with every dollar from ticket sales going to impacted families. The shop is also accepting checks made out to the McPherson County Community Foundation, with "Soccer" written on the memo line. Treasure Chest Gun Shop & Indoor Range has pledged 10% of all profits from Oct. 20 through Oct. 31 and will let customers round up their purchases or add a donation at checkout.

Support is coming from farther afield as well. Hutchinson Soccer Club Azzurri collected donations for affected families at a prayer vigil held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, at the Salthawk Sport Complex south fields. Level Up Nutrition in Hillsboro and Next Level Nutrition in Marion are donating a percentage of sales and tips to the families, and Prairie Nutrition in Hays said it would give 10% of its sales on Wednesday, Oct. 21.

The Wichita Eagle, which originally published this report, said a separate list of restaurants contributing part of their proceeds is available, and asked anyone aware of additional donation opportunities to email wenews@wichitaeagle.com.