Friends have raised nearly $50,000 to help pay medical bills for an award-winning journalist who suffered a massive head injury Jan. 17 in a savage beating.
Randy Gener, a Filipino-American editor, writer and artist underwent brain surgery after being rushed to St. Luke’s hospital following the early-morning attack at Seventh Ave. and 54th St.
Two days ago, his friends set up the fund-raising site and by Tuesday night have raised more than $47,000, with a goal of $70,000.
“The road to recovery is going to be very long and we’re not sure what his insurance will cover,” said Liz Casasola, a friend who helped set up the site. “He is just so loved in the Filipino community and we wanted to come together to do what we could.”
Police have not made any arrests in Gener’s beating but have released a sketch of the suspect.
Gener remains hospitalized, with his family by his side, Casasola said.
“Randy is kind of like a big brother to me. I’m still shocked,” Casasola said. “I mean, this happened in Midtown in a brightly lit place.
“I had last talked to him Jan. 16, the day before it happened,” she said.
She became aware of the attack after reading about it Jan. 24 on Facebook.
Two days later, the site was up.
“The entire community mobilized together,” she said. “That’s how fast social media is.”
