It may be the crisis of his life, but the entire Berkeley student population ? all 500 plus of them ? were there yesterday to walk him through it.

Sixteen-year old Dejon Simmons, an S3 student at the Berkeley Institute, lies recovering in a Boston hospital today from burns covering some 95 percent of his body after a bike accident in July. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy he was not expected to survive.

Nearly five months after the accident, however, Dejon is moving and sitting up ? and slowly being taken off the morphine.

A patient at the Boston Shriners Hospital, a paediatric hospital for severe burn victims, his rehabilitation is expected to be both lengthy and costly.

Yesterday, Dejon?s classmates took steps to lessen the costs for Dejon and his family.

Shortly before 9.30 a.m students living in the West End gathered at the Warwick Post Office while students living in the East End met at the Shelly Bay MarketPlace.

Then, synchronising their starts by cell phone, the entire student body ? along with Dejon?s stepfather and aunt ? marched towards town, meeting 500-strong at Berkeley.

The students had aimed to raise some $20,000 through the charity walk, however Berkeley physical education teacher Arnold Manders ? who visited Dejon in Boston recently ? said he estimated once all the donations were in, the total would be closer to $30,000.

One student alone raised $2,000, he added.

Teachers did the walk with the students, as well as acting as marshals and co-ordinating water stops along the way. Secretaries also took part.

?Everybody participated,? Mr. Manders said.

Close family friend Carol Edness was at the Warwick Post Office watching the students start.

The family, she said, is ?really impressed with the support the school has been giving, and the community at large. Every time I see somebody they are asking about him, he?s had tremendous support?.

Dejon?s mother Flo Simons was in Boston with her son yesterday. His father and stepmother have also strongly supported their son?s rehabilitation.