Columbia youth's friends rally
By Jackie Peronne jacper@juno.com

As 12- year- old Chandler DeLoach and his friend Harrison Shannon fight to recover from serious accident injuries, their family and friends have rallied around them.

The two were badly injured in an automobile accident on June 8, 2007. Both are recovering, and their families have set up Web sites so they can receive well- wishes from friends and supporters. At recent count, each boy had received more than one thousand hits on the site, where a daily update is posted on their progress. Bumper stickers and fundraisers have been organized for them also.

On May 11, only a month before the accident, Chandler DeLoach's sister, father, and grandmother

were featured in The Columbia

Star as being a three- generation Dreher High School family where Chandler's mother teaches physical education. All were involved in the Dreher all- alumni reunion in May, and Chandler will enter Dreher in two years.

DeLoach and Shannon can be reached at www.caring bridge.org. Their families have expressed thanks and amazement at the outpouring of good wishes.