(WSB photos by Cliff DesPeaux)
That’s Jade West Café fan and West Seattle resident Dave Gross hugging cafe proprietor Wah Wong during Sunday’s fundraising lunch at Wallingford restaurant Perché No Pasta and Vino. Though Wah is using a wheelchair now, the family still hopes they can reopen the treasured West Seattle eatery “soon.” That’s what they told photojournalist Cliff DesPeaux, who covered the event for WSB. A larger-than-expected crowd showed up to offer their support, and to see Wah and son Jason Wong, both badly hurt when a drunk driver hit them in December outside their Beacon Hill home. Jason lost part of a leg:
Monica Tonel, greeting Jason in that photo, is the mother of a basketball player coached by Jason, whose friends organized the fundraiser. More photos ahead:
According to Dave Gross, Perché No is owned by the family of Jason Wong’s best friend, and that’s why the restaurant hosted the benefit:
Along with a three-course Italian lunch – Caesar salad, gnocchi, and tiramisu – all who came were serenaded by live music from Michael Powers:
And $10 raffle tickets brought in extra to help:
But perhaps most helpful of all, the support and smiles – that’s Jason at right:
So different from the last time we saw the family – exactly two months ago, as the driver who hit Wah and Jason was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, following an emotional hearing (WSB coverage here) in a courtroom that, like the restaurant on Sunday, was full of supporters. If you couldn’t be there on Sunday but would like to help them with the big medical bills that they are facing, go to any Wells Fargo branch and donate to the Save Jade West Café fund.
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