Family and friends hosted a fundraiser for a Guelph woman Saturday, after she was badly burned and lost her home when a stranger set fire to her townhouse earlier this year.

Paula McGladery has been in hospital since the January 31 fire. She suffered severe third degree burns to her hands and feet, and was in a coma for over a month.

“We were absolutely heartbroken when we heard the story about Paula and how somebody so senseless could just devastate a family so quickly and for no justification whatsoever,” said Kathryn Damman, who helped arrange part of the fundraiser.

Saturday’s fundraiser started with a motorcycle run from Waterloo to Elora in the afternoon, followed by a dance with a silent auction and raffle later in the evening.

McGladery received a special pass from the hospital to attend the events.

“It overwhelms me really, all this love I feel from people, I don’t even know some of them,” McGladery said, speaking through tears.

“I’m overhelmed. I’m humbled by everything that’s happened,” she added.

About 150 motorcycles joined in, playing a $25 registration fee. All the money collected goes to McGladery.

“Bikers, we’re a tough looking bunch but we’re teddy bears on the inside, and we put a call out to our biker families and came together to do whatever we possibly could for Paula and her son,” Damman said.

“We’re just trying to relieve her mind so that she can concentrate on her rehabilitation more than the other stuff,” said organizer Angie Walser.

Organizers are hoping to raise $10,000.

“It’s a crazy turnout and I’m just so excited that there is so much support,” said Andrew McGladrey, Paula’s son.

“Just to see my mom smile, and see this great turn out is just amazing,” he continued. Andrew lived with his mother, and also lost all of his belongings in the fire.

“The house got ruined, but that’s nothing compared to lives,” he said. There are structural problems with the home, and it is estimated it will be 3 to 4 more months before they can return.

Guelph Police have charged 34-year-old Fancisco Silveri with attempted murder, arson causing bodily harm, possession of incendiary materials and uttering death threats in McGladrey’s case. He has been remanded into custody and will appear in court on May 15.

Paula is set to be released from the hospital on Monday.

“I’m a little bit scared, because I’ve been (at the hospital) for so long. It’s very structured, I feel very safe there, but when I come here I can’t wait to get out,” she said about the fundraiser.

“It’s the best medicine I’ve had yet, and I can’t say thank you enough to everybody,”