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Community continues to rally in support of girl hit by a car inside Parker running store

Posted at 4:14 PM, May 13, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-13 19:43:56-04

PAKER, Colo. -- Rylie Guentensberger remains in critical but stable condition at an area hospital. She was in the RNK Running & Walking store in Parker on April 29 when a car barreled through the front glass. Seven people were injured. Six were released from the hospital but Rylie remains in ICU.

On Saturday, a huge crowd filled the South Suburban Ice Center for a fundraiser. Rylie's father, Ziggy, plays in a men's hockey club. His hockey family set up the event.

"We think about Rylie every day," said Todd Gehrke. He's a friend of the family and part of a nonprofit called Dawg Nation which helps support fellow hockey players.

"We provide an outlet and a resource to bring the community together in order to make sure the family knows we support them and that we're thinking of them."

In the meantime, the owner of RNK Running & Walking is working hard to get his store reopened.

"Out with the old and in with the new," said owner Jim Browning. 

On Saturday morning more than 100 volunteers showed up to help clear the destroyed space where the car barreled through.

The landlord of Stroh Ranch Center is opening up a vacant space in the shopping center for the running store to temporarily open for business.

Volunteers helped sort shoes and other athletic apparel. Everything in the store at the time of the crash will be salvaged. New shoes and equipment will fill the temporary space just next door to the original space.

"I'm humbled by how many people came out to help," said Browning.

There may be progress for his store but the victims of the crash still weigh heavy on his mind.

"We had seven people in the hospital. Six are out. Some are on crutches and hobbling around. Of those individuals we still have one," said Browning as he talked about Rylie still in the hospital.

"Her family still needs help," he said.

If you want to donate to help with Rylie's recovery, click here.