SPANISH FORT, Ala.—The Spanish Fort Fire-Rescue Department Auxiliary raised more than $7,600 March 12 during a barbecue benefitting Lt. Jason Hadley.

The funds will be used by Hadley to help offset medical costs associated with a Feb. 16 wreck in which he struck a deer with his motorcycle while traveling home from his shift as a medical technician at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope.

“It’s hard to estimate attendance, but we believe more than 1,000 people came out,” said Fire Chief Roger Few.

An account has also been established in Hadley’s name at Compass Bank in Spanish Fort.

Hadley, 21, spent two weeks at USA Medical Center in Mobile before being transferred to Spain Rehabilitation Center on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he underwent six days of physical and occupational therapy.

Although it will most likely be at least six months before Hadley is back on the job as a volunteer firefighter, Few said he’s already become a regular fixture around the station on Spanish Fort Boulevard.

“He’s got another surgery to go to replace the skull piece that had been removed to allow for swelling,” Few said.