HOLLISTON, Mass. -- Friends of a Holliston teenager who was seriously injured in a manhole explosion last month came together Tuesday to help raise funds for the teen's family.

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Jim Boyd Reports On Fund Donations Donations for Eric's medical care cane be sent to: Eric Brack Medical Fund c/o Bank North 746 Washington St. Holliston, MA 01746

NewsCenter 5's Jim Boyd reported that Eric Brack, 18, remained hospitalized after a manhole exploded in Natick two weeks ago. The blast sent a 130-pound manhole cover crashing through the front windshield of the car Brack was riding in, causing severe injuries to his face, throat and shoulder.

Hospital visits to Brack are limited, but a group of the victim's friends is coming together to help a friend in need.

"If we couldn't be with him as much as we wanted to, we could do something to help his family," Holliston teen Kristen Berard said.

Brack's friends have arranged several fund-raisers to help pay the medical expenses. A big part of that will come from a benefit at a local church scheduled for next Saturday. Brack's friends have also placed jars in local stores so that townspeople can pitch in and make donations.

"Just about everybody drops at least some coins in the jar, and everyone's concerned," Fiske's General Store employee John Paltrineri said.

"The towns of Holliston and Natick have been incredibly generous in giving us donations. We've got large amounts of money from both. We've raised over $5,000 as of yet," Holliston resident Mark Shastany said.

Brack's friends said that they don't know if he is aware of their fund-raising efforts. But they said that the track standout, who graduated in June, is a fun-loving youngster who made them all laugh.

They said that they are sure he'll pull through.

"When he's all better, long down the road, he'll be, like, laughing about this because he's got a great sense of humor. He'll be all right. He's a great kid," Holliston teen Jill Shastany said.

Doctors said that Brack is making progress every day. He's listed in good condition at Massachusetts General Hospital.