Charity Run Held For School Principal Who Lost Legs In Accident

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HIALEAH (CBSMiami) -- Hundreds of people showed up for a 5k run at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah, in honor of high school principal Javier Perez.

Both of the 43-year-old's legs were amputated after police say a drunk driver hit him while he was watching a softball game.

Race organizers had a goal of attracting 200 participants but today more than 1,100 runners and walkers showed up for the event.

"I think about it and I get goosebumps what everyone has come together to do for our friend and colleague Javi Perez," said Madelyn Sierra-Hernandez, a friend and colleague of the school principal.

Seth Folger, who doesn't know Perez, ran with his daughter.

"We are both runners and we know what Javi means to the school, to the community. What he did was amazing and if this is going to help out, this is what we want to do," he said.

Money continues to flow into a GoFundMe account set up for Javi Perez. At last check, it's at $143,000.

On that page his wife said he's getting better everyday. She even said he was able to sit in a chair recently and His condition has been upgraded from serious to fair.