A fund started to help Northern California warbird pilot Bernie Vasquez and his family has already collected about $54,000 since its launch on Oct. 21, according to Patriots for Vets Director Adam D. Garcia.

The fund is hosted by Patriots for Vets, a family-based nonprofit established in 2008 by Spencer and Laura Defty of Woodland, Garcia told Wingman in an Oct. 28 email.

“We’re grateful for everyone who has donated, shared the fundraiser, or offered their prayers and encouragement,” Garcia said.

Vasquez faces a long road to recovery after sustaining life-threatening injuries in an ATV accident, according to a post by the International Council of Air Shows asking the air show community to contribute.

“If you know Bernie, you know that he has spent his life helping others and inspiring millions with aerial mastery of warbird aircraft,” the post said. “Now, it’s our turn to help Bernie. Every contribution will make a difference.”

In a statement on the fundraiser page, Vasquez’s wife, Abbigail Isenhour-Vasquez, described the impact the accident has had on the family, saying their lives “changed in an instant” on Oct. 2. Isenhour-Vasquez, who is a U.S. Army veteran and Vacaville police corporal, called Vasquez a devoted husband and loving father to the couple’s 7-year-old son.

“While we are incredibly grateful that he is still here with us, we know we may have a long and difficult road ahead,” Isenhour-Vasquez said on the page.

The family-run Patriots for Vets began with a tribute for World War II veterans with the Collings Foundation, Garcia said. The event featured historic aircraft and B-17 flights for veterans. Since that event, the organization’s mission has grown to include unit reunions, guided hunts, and outdoor excursions that help veterans reconnect.

In a 2024 interview with Vintage Aviation News, Vasquez said he would ride his bicycle to the Nut Tree Airport (VCB) in his hometown of Vacaville and dream of flying one day. He started working odd jobs at the airport, trading work fueling airplanes at the fixed base operator (FBO) for flight time. Along the way, he met Steve and Brant Seghetti, owners of a P-51D Mustang, N151D, based at Nut Tree. Later, he would connect with Steve Hinton at the Reno Air Races and spend time working on warbirds at Sanders Aircraft in Ione, Vasquez told the outlet.

Vasquez has flown some of the world’s rarest vintage aircraft, including a newly restored and repainted 1945 Grumman F8F Bearcat at Oshkosh last July and an Allison-powered P-51A Mustang at the 2024 California Capital Airshow.

“Right now, there are so many unknowns. We are taking each day as it comes, focusing on Bernie’s recovery and being grateful for every moment we have together,” Isenhour-Vasquez said.

She thanked the aviation, law enforcement, and military communities for their support, adding, “We don’t know exactly what the road ahead will look like, but anyone who knows Bernie knows one thing: he doesn’t give up easily.”