Injured teen recovers
By Jenine Clancy, Special Writer
JAMESBURG — About 100 local bikers took to the road, Saturday to help raise money for 18-year-old Mikey Nichols, who became paralyzed after suffering a severe spinal cord injury while playing a varsity hockey game back in January.
Sponsored by the Jamesburg Elks Post 2180 Motorcycle Committee, "Miles for Mikey" saw motorcyclists with all levels of experience take the 46-mile ride from the elks lodge at 74 West Railroad Ave, down through Jackson Township and back.
"It’s 23 miles out and 23 miles back, to represent Mikey’s uniform number" said Vice President of the Jamesburg Elks Motorcycle Committee Bob Mitchell. "Our principals at the Elks are Brotherly Love, Charity, Loyalty and Fidelity, we are all about helping the community, so when this happened we just had to reach out and help them and do this benefit."
It was $20 to enter into the event, with all proceeds going to help offset the Nichols family’s high medical costs/ Police forces from Jamesburg, Monroe and Manalapan all helped on the ride.
Mikey was a senior at Monroe Township High School when he was injured after being checked from behind and smashed headfirst into the boards.
Mikey underwent surgery to repair a C5 vertebra fracture at Morristown Medical Center and underwent therapy, three hours a day at the Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation in West Orange. In June, he graduated and also returned home full-time.
"I think its fantastic people are showing up like this, its an amazing thing how the community gets together, especially the biker community, we appreciate everyone here," Mikey’s father Steven Nichols said.
Mr. Nichols said Mikey has experienced some movement in his upper body, being able to feed himself and brush his teeth.
"He is doing better," Mr. Nichols said. "He goes around in his motorized wheel chair and goes out with his friends at night. He is living a normal life."
Mr. Nichols also said that he does see college sometime in the future for his son, just not right now.
"He is determined," Mr. Nichols said.
The hour-and-a-half ride was followed by a street fair along West Railroad Ave, with music, food and games.
Mikey, who sat next to a large, purple "23" ballon said he couldn’t be more thankful.
"I think its awesome everyone came out to support me," he said. "I’m just a regular 18-year-old kid who loves hockey. I can’t thank everyone enough."
Mikey also said his life is an everyday process.
"I can’t complain, it’s ups and downs everyday," he said. "I try to walk and get up, maybe not today, but tomorrow."