More than 100 people packed a Hudson restaurant Saturday to raise money for Asher Thompson, a 10-year-old Pasco County boy still unable to breathe on his own more than five weeks after being struck by two cars on State Road 52.

An online fundraiser for the family has surpassed $30,000, according to WFLA-TV. Asher's mother, Jackie Almeida, told the station that doctors found less brain damage than initially feared.

Almeida took a brief break from her son's hospital bedside to attend the event at Sigmone's Acropolis, a deli and meat market in Hudson.

"I could've never imagined the love and support that we've received," Almeida said at the fundraiser.

She said she is working to get Asher transferred to a specialized care unit for his neurological needs.

Asher's road to recovery

Asher was riding his bicycle on State Road 52 in mid-June when he was struck by one vehicle, which pushed him into the path of a second car, according to WFLA-TV. A bystander performed CPR on the unresponsive boy before first responders arrived and revived him. He was taken to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa and placed in a drug-induced coma.

The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the crash. Neither driver was charged.

Almeida told WFLA-TV in June that Asher had been with his brother at a nearby gas station when something frightened him. "There was some incident, and I don't know all the details, but Asher got scared and ran out and just jumped on his bike and just went," she said at the time.

At the time of the crash, doctors warned that if Asher woke up, he would require full-time care and be unable to live on his own. Almeida said the newer findings have given the family more hope.

Community response

Jim Sigmone, owner of Sigmone's Acropolis, organized the July 18 fundraiser. He said hundreds of companies called to donate.

"If you have kids, you understand. When a little boy like that gets hurt, you feel it," Sigmone said.

He said the restaurant plans to continue fundraising for the family, though no specific future event date has been announced.

Almeida said she is focused on getting Asher to the specialized facility. He remains at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa.