A six-year old with a huge heart has started a fund raising effort for his best friend, eight year-old James McNees, who's still fighting for his life after a tragic sledding accident in North Branch recently. It's truly heart warming to see how local communities have responded.

Need a reason to smile today? Read on...

Eight year-old, James McNees of North Branch sustained life threatening injuries in a very tragic sledding accident in front of their family home recently. He and his two brothers 10 and 15, were sledding and ATVing on Slattery Road in North Branch, and somehow found themselves in the path of an oncoming truck driven by a 47 year-old North Branch man. The driver of that truck did everything he could to avoid the sled and ATV, but did end up striking James. The driver and the other two boys were not injured.

Desperately wanting to do something to help, James' best friend, Sawyer has started a can drive to help the McNees family with medical expenses and gas money so that they can get back and forth from North Branch to Hurley Medical Center, in Flint. "Inside my desk are a lot of cans, so I thought we could get money to get mom and dad get back and forth." he explained. In just one week, he has collected $1,600. The Whistle Stop in North Branch and Bryans's Market in Deerfield Township have offered to be drop-off locations, and Ray-C's of Lapeer has generously promised to match every donated can, dime for dime.

James is currently listed in critical condition at Hurley Medical Center.

Complete details on this wonderful hometown effort are in the video below, courtesy of WDIV.

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