Former Cactus High School student trying to raise money for paralyzed teacher

PHOENIX (FOX 10) -- A Valley teacher hit by a car on the I-10 in 2016 and paralyzed from the neck down is getting a boost from a former student who is trying to get the word out and raise money for the teacher who helped get him to Arizona State University.

Chase Henry, a former Cactus High School student, says his teacher, Eric Snyder, changed his life. When Henry was at Cactus High, Snyder taught him algebra. Now, she's teaching him determination.

Snyder was hit by another driver in 2016, paralyzing her from the neck down.

"A car hit us on the 10, right by the stack, and we ended up -- I think my side of the car got hit three times, and we hit the rail twice, and I broke my neck," said Snyder.

Henry, now at ASU, has kept in contact since then. Snyder would love to get back to teaching and coaching full time someday but the road has been long.

"The more upset you get or the more angry you get, it takes you to a negative place instead of a positive place, and I don't think anybody recovers well when they do it that way," said Snyder.

The medical bills don't stop, and her goal is to get an fes bike for her home.

"There's a leg part that can help stimulate your legs and you start pedaling, and there's an upper part so you can use your arms," said Snyder.

Henry is hoping, with a little lesson about love and compassion, to make it a reality for his former teacher turned friend

"Hopefully, something can happen and we can kind of get a Christmas miracle and get all the money, see what happens," said Henry.

A GoFundMe launched at the time of the accident raised about $60,000 for Snyder. Now, Henry hopes to get her the $17,000 for the therapy bike.

GoFundMe for Erin Snyder
https://www.gofundme.com/erinsnyder-cycle