700 friends step up to help Utah County family

SPRINGVILLE — Hundreds of people gathered at a benefit concert in the Springville High School on Friday night, raising nearly $30,000 for the wife and children of a Payson man who died in a truck accident on Mount Nebo in October.

Jim Hall took his 6-year-old son, Braxton, on a hunting trip Oct. 25 in the mountains near the Nebo Loop. Their truck climbed up a steep spot and rolled down a ravine. Hall was injured in the accident, but he managed to free himself and his son from the wreck. Miles from town and without a cell phone signal, they had to hike 15 miles in 10 hours before they were found.

The next day, Hall went to the hospital, and X-rays revealed he fractured a vertebra in the wreck. He was sent home to await surgery on the next day, but he didn't wake up the next morning. He died, leaving wife Jessica, and children — Hunter, 12, Megan, 7, Braxton, 6, Porter, 3, and Emree, 2 — with no support.

"She was basically left with nothing," said Jessica Wycherly, a long-time friend of the Hall family.

Wycherly and her husband, Jeremy, have been friends of the Halls for four years, and they felt like they should do something to help. With the help of Jessica Wycherly's sister, Heather Bartholomew, they coordinated a benefit concert featuring Peter Breinholt, Alex Boye and the band, Miles To Go.

Jessica Wycherly said she sent "cold" e-mails to the performers, and they responded almost immediately.

"They were just willing to help," she said. "I couldn't believe how kind and generous they are."

Alex Boye — former member of the British boy band Awesome turned solo artist — said he had a previous commitment scheduled for the evening of the concert, but he canceled after he heard Hall's story.

"I felt the spirit tell me that I should do this," he said. "That is literally how I felt."

About 700 people showed up to the concert Friday night at the Springville High School. Aside from the musical performances, items donated by local businesses were auctioned off. By the end of the evening, they gathered $30,000 for the Hall family.

"That was a big relief for (Jessica Hall)," Jeremy Wycherly said. "She was down to her last 2 pennies."

Jeremy Wycherly said Jessica Hall is going to use some of the money to pay her mortgage and the rest will be put in the bank for the children.