They’re putting their feet, legs and lungs to work to help a recovering teammate.

On Friday, Jan. 23, from 4 p.m. to Saturday, Jan. 24 at 4 p.m., there will be a 24-hour continuous run fundraiser at the Columbia Falls High School Track at 610 13th St. W. for Hazel Alexander and her family by the cross country team.

Alexander, a junior at Columbia Falls High School and a veteran member of the cross country team, was T-boned Jan. 9 at the intersection of U.S. 2 and Montana 206 by a man allegedly driving a stolen Dodge Durango.

The driver of the vehicle, Alfred Chester Paul Flamond, 34, of Kalispell, was going roughly 80 miles per hour when the collision occurred.

Alexander sustained many life-threatening injuries, including a removed spleen, broken femur, broken jaw and shattered pelvis, and suffered a stroke. 

The Columbia Falls cross country team is putting on the fundraiser with Alexander’s favorite sport in mind: running. The team is going to have at least one member running on the track at all times. To raise funds, they are asking people to offer a pledge per number of total laps the team completes, or they suggest offering a straight donation amount.

Everyone from the community is encouraged to come join in for a few laps in support (community laps do not count towards the total, organizers said), but there's no requirement for attendees to run. 

Lights will illuminate the track during night hours and everyone is encouraged to bring a family member or invite a friend.

There will be a tent set up by the track which will provide refreshments and portable toilets will be stationed nearby. A donation box will be available on site as well. All proceeds from the fundraiser will directly benefit the Alexander family.  

In addition to the Columbia Falls cross country team’s fundraiser, community members have also started a Give Send Go campaign to raise money for her treatment. For those who can't make the team’s event, the team encourages them to donate to that fund at www.givesendgo.com (search for Hazel Alexander).

As of Jan. 21, $60,000 has been raised toward a $75,000 goal.

MORE DETAILS have been released in the collision. According to charging documents filed last week in Flathead County District Court, Flamond allegedly stole the Durango from the Town Pump in Evergreen, which was left running while the driver went inside of the store to make a purchase.

About a minute after hearing the report of the stolen vehicle, a Columbia Falls Police officer spotted the Durango heading east on U.S. 2 going about 20 mph over the speed limit, court documents said.

The officer activated his lights and tried to make a stop near Station 8. The Durango initially moved over to the outside lane, but then allegedly sped up to 65 mph in a 45 mph zone and then began weaving, crossing from the outside lane through the inside lane and almost through the center turn lane. 

As the Durango approached the intersection of U.S. 2 East and Montana 206, it weaved back into the inside lane of travel, according to court documents. As the traffic light changed from green to red, the officer noted that the Durango’s brake lights only briefly illuminated, indicating that Flamond was not going to attempt to slow down or stop at the intersection, court documents said. The officer changed his siren sounds in an attempt to alert any other drivers that the Durango was going to run the red light.

At the intersection of U.S. 2 and Montana 206, Alexander’s car was making a left hand turn onto U.S. 2, as it had the green light, court documents said.

Flamond allegedly ran the light, which, according to police car camera footage, had been red about five seconds before the collision. Flamond hit the driver’s side door of Alexander’s car. She was the lone occupant.

Police obtained a warrant to take a blood draw from Flamond, as he refused to give one, court documents said.

Flamond faces felony counts of fleeing or eluding a police officer, criminal endangerment and theft of a light vehicle.

He is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 29. Bail was set at $200,000.

Flamond has two pending felony cases for possession of dangerous drugs in Flathead County. 

In the last six months Flamond has been arrested six times by the Kalispell Police Department and three times by the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, according to court documents.