ATHENS, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
The theme of the fundraiser is "Let's Stand For Sam," an event that will take place July 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cycle World of Athens.
The money raised will go towards helping the family cover travel expenses to visit Walter Reed National Medical Center in Maryland.
"That is the main support I have had, is my family," said Samuel Walley. "My family is pretty much the backbone of me keeping a smile on my face every day."
Walley was awarded a Purple Heart for his injury. It was on June 6, just two days after his 20th birthday, that Walley stepped on an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. His right leg and left arm had to be amputated. Walley also had a perforated ear drum. On Monday, he underwent extensive surgery on his left leg as doctors desperately tried to keep from having to amputate that one too.
"Therapy, is going rough, but it is going good," Walley said. "It is a painful thing, but you have to do it. They are real positive and encouraging, telling me I am doing a good job, so that feels good."
Mike Newell, the business and marketing manager at Cycle World of Athens, is organizing the fundraiser.
"We are hoping that a lot of people will keep Sam in mind," Newell said. "He is going to need a lot of help down the road. We want to create some awareness for people who might support that cause of helping his family pay for travel expenses."
Walley said his parents have bills to pay and it is difficult to cover the cost of travel. Walley can't believe how much his home town is supporting him in this fundraiser on Saturday.
"I just considered it a duty to my country to be doing that, and the next thing you know you get injured and everybody is helping," Walley said. "It is actually really surprising, and makes me feel real good inside knowing there are people out there that want to help me."
Walley met President Barack Obama at Walter Reed. Walley said he told the president, "If I needed to pay this price, and lose my limbs, it happened. I don't regret anything. I paid a price for my country, and I am willing to do it just because I've got my freedom and there are others that are getting their freedom."
Walley is a 2010 graduate of Winder-Barrow High School, where he served on the JROTC program. After high school, Walley joined the Army and was deployed to Afghanistan as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division.
The address for Cycle World of Athens is 4225 Atlanta Hwy., Bogart, GA 30622.
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