Friends of Mike Durkin, a Powhatan resident severely injured in a recent motorcycle accident, will be holding a benefit on Feb. 23 to help offset the medical bills his family is now facing.

The event, featuring live music from Against the Grain, food and a silent auction, will be held at the Powhatan Moose Lodge from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Single tickets are $10 and advanced tickets for couples are $15. Couples tickets at the door will be $20.

Those staging the event are hoping they will be able to bring a measure of comfort to Durkin and his wife, who were in the process of moving to Florida when the accident occurred.

Durkin, a U.S. veteran, lost his leg in the accident but is now in the early stages of rehabilitation at Lee Memorial hospital in Fort Myers, Fla.

According to updates left periodically on the family’s answering service, Durkin is improving each day but still has a long recovery ahead of him. His wife noted that he is still struggling with short term memory and recalls nothing about the accident itself.

Donna Gale Barden, one of the organizers of the benefit, said she couldn’t help but put herself in the place of Durkin’s wife, who had been in Powhatan finalizing the sale of the couple’s home when the accident occurred. Now the couple’s life has essentially been put on hold as Durkin recovers and learns to use his new prosthesis.

The organizers of the benefit are seeking financial donations to aid in Durkin’s recovery as well as items to auction during the event.

Donations will be accepted at the event and checks may be made payable to the Mike Durkin Recovery Fund at Central Virginia Bank.