My name is Samantha Sparks and this fundraiser is for my dad Howard Smithwick. My dad has been back and forth to several areas in Western North Carolina volunteering for hurricane Helene relief. Thursday, October 31st he was riding a dirt bike in Coxes Creek to get to a community member in need when the road collapsed out from under him and he fell 30 feet down a ravine and into a river. My father sustained major life-threatening injuries including broken ribs, collapsed lungs, broken vertebrae in his thoracic spine, a broken collarbone, and a brain bleed and was immediately flown by helicopter to Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC. My family rushed from about 4 hours away to be by his side, and he is in the ICU. This was an absolute unforeseen emergency that is racking up medical bills, costs of hotel, food, and gas. My dad has been such a giver his whole life, and he is beloved by this community out here that he has been helping, and now he and my family are in great need. Please give what you can, and share this so that we can take care of him, and my mother during this very scary time. According to what has already been spent and our estimations on medical bills so far, $4,000.00 is our best guess to cover the need.