Fundraiser held in teen's memory

POQUOSON, Va. - Parties are a right of passage for most high school students. This one featured food, fun and even balloon hats. A breezy departure from the heaviness most of these teens have been feeling.

"Oh yeah, it's hard," said Corbin Johnson.

At just 14 years old, Johnson lost his best friend Frank Gornik.

"He was the kind of guy that no matter what was going on, no matter anyone, he would be there for you," said Johnson.

Gornik's friends described him as one of the good guys. The kind that had lots of friends, the kind who liked to work hard and play hard.

"He was really fascinated with cars and he knew anything and everything you could think of," said Johnson.

Two weeks ago, Poquoson high schoolers lost their classmate, who could stump just about anyone when it came to RPM's or horsepower.

Frank Gornik was tragically killed November 22 doing something else he loved, working with his uncle's tree service. While on the job, Gornik was accidentally pulled into a wood chipper and killed.

Johnson wasn't prepared for that. He and Gornik planned to room together in college, maybe Virginia Tech or the University of Virginia.

"I knew that he was gonna turn out good, you know, have a good life," said Johnson.

So, Poquoson teens gathered at Tropical Smoothie to celebrate that life, while raising money for a fund in Gornik's name. Tropical Smoothie Cafe owner Teressa Penland donated 100 percent of Thursday night's sales to the fund.

"The Poquoson community is such a tight knit community that we just wanted to do something for his family," said Penland.

The gesture made Gornik's friends feel pretty good too.

"I'm just so happy that everybody came out here and is gonna make a contribution," said Johnson.

Tonight's fundraiser collected $3,100.00.

If you'd like to help, mail your donation to the "Gornik Account" at P.O. Box 2474, Yorktown, Virginia 23692.

Related Link:

Memory page dedicated to Gornik on Facebook