Northrop community holds benefit for paralyzed student

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A freshman at Northrop High School continues to recover from a skiing accident that left him paralyzed on Christmas Eve. 

Noah Barbknecht is still in a Georgia hospital, receiving physical therapy. The accident, which happened in Vermont, left the teenager paralyzed from the chest down.

Friends and family of Noah held The Bruin Benefit for Noah Saturday evening at Ceruti's in his honor. The event was sold out, but people were also able to bid online . The night was organized by the Northrop football team and coaches and the school community. It consisted of door and raffle prizes. Some of the items that were auctioned off included a one week stay at a condo in Destin, Fla., a Valentine's Day package with hotel stays, fishing and hunting gear, and art work.

Noah's father, Jason Barbknecht, said Noah is set to come back to Fort Wayne on April 1 and hopefully start school a week later. He said Noah is doing well and in high spirits.

"Noah just went on his first outing Thursday," Barbknecht said. "He actually went to Dick’s Sporting Goods that’s part of the program they have down there to help teach the kids how to get back into society."

The money raised from the benefit will help contribute to Noah's medical costs and transforming his family's house to make it wheelchair accessible.