By Sacha Delfosse
Friends of Mikee Collins (pictured), who was severely injured after falling from a balcony in December, will consider another fundraising event for the Sydney bar owner after raising $60,000 for his rehabilitation earlier this week.
The hospitality industry came out in force to support Collins at Monday's fundraiser, which was held at Keystone's Cargo Lounge.
Several of Collins' friends, including Mikey Hamilton, Vern Fitzgerald and Clint Hillery, owner of wine bar Time to Vino, helped organise the night.
"Keystone was very generous and there were a lot of personal donations," Hillery told TheShout.
"Apart from the $80 ticket sales, 100 per cent of all the bar sales up until 11 o'clock went towards Mikee. That was all sponsored stock, everything from tiny family-owned wineries to the big boys like CUB, Little Creatures and Diageo."
Hillery said Collins' condition has improved and his "cheeky personality is back", however he will have to undergo a lengthy period of rehabilitation before he is back on his feet again.
"We don't have any definitive answers as to how long that is going to be and how much money it will take," Hillery said.
Apart from bar and ticket sales, the night also included an auction, lucky dips and a raffle.
"The auctions went really well and everything sold, people really brought their cash along on Monday night," said Hillery.
"A round the world trip sold for $3,000, a Merivale package sold for almost $3,500, a wine tasting for eight people with Nick Stock went for $2,500."
With plenty of donated stock still left over, Hillery said there will more than likely be another event in the future.
"We will potentially do another small event for him when he is able to attend. He might be on wheels and I don't think he'll be drinking but it would be nice if we could celebrate with Mikee a bit," he said.
"I was stoked to see how much the industry supported one of its own. Sometimes we can be a bit of a transient industry but everyone came to the party on this one – it was fantastic."
Donations and enquiries can be made at mikeesupport@hotmail.com