Friends gathered Friday evening for a benefit for a Villager, now recovering at home after being critically injured in a bicycle accident in January.
Villager Paul Mickelson, who serves as an associate pastor at Hope Lutheran Church, spent 34 days in the Intensive Care Unit. He went home 53 days after the accident.
About 80 friends from the two prominent bicycle clubs in The Villages, the Village Bicycle Club and Sumter Landing Bicycle Club, got together Friday for a neighborhood party. Mickelson has ridden with both clubs as well as The Panthers Tandem Bicycle Club.
“We are both appreciative of all the support from the bicycle riders in all three clubs,” said Mickelson’s wife Ellen, also an associate pastor at Hope Lutheran.
Fellow bicyclist Dave Lawrence, who served as DJ at the event, said cyclists remain concerned about “Montana Paul.” But it was a joyous occasion.
“There was an incredible amount of food, desert, and laughter lasting from 4 to 8 p.m. A tribute to Paul was erected. Commencing at 6 p.m. the dancing started with no let up to the end of the event,” Lawrence said.