Around two hundred people attended an emotional fundraiser in Calgary Saturday night. The event was to help pay for the medical expenses of a Brazilian exchange student blinded by a stray bullet.

24-year old Jose Neto is blind after getting caught in the crossfire of Calgary's gun violence. Neto was hit in the face by a stray bullet as he and his girlfriend were leaving a restaurant in Chinatown on September 16th.

A dinner was organized by the Brazilian Community Association of Alberta. It took place at the Portuguese Community Centre at 4747 30 Street SE Saturday night.

Neto arrived at the event to a standing ovation. He says he is grateful for the support he's received from friends, family, Calgarians and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB). Neto says the CNIB is helping him cope with losing his sight.

"I just have some difficulty to learn how to be blind, because I don't know yet actually. But everything's good, everything is a new stuff. I'm learning every day. I learn something that's great. It's like I'm starting my life again."

Neto's mother, who is here from Brazil, plans to stay in Calgary to help her son for several more months.

All of it is extremely costly, which is why the Brazilian Community Association of Alberta is planning even more fundraisers.

For more information, log onto:

http://www.bcaab.org/Neto/Netos_site_at_the_BrazilianAssociation_org.htm

A bank account has also been set up and donations are being accepted at HSBC:

Account Number: 029-547423-080 - Jose Neto's Fund

In response to Neto's shooting, a group of concerned Calgarians is organizing an anti-violence protest.

It's taking place on Friday, October 10th, from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Calgary Courts at 601-5th Street SW.

Organizers say they're demanding that all levels of government put an end to the increasing violence in Calgary.

They're asking people to bring signs and banners with the words, "Stop Violence Now" written on them.