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HIGH POINT — Wang Xing gathered his family outside their Dragon City restaurant Monday to greet a crowd of well-wishers.

The Chinese restaurant on Eastchester Drive has been closed since July, when Xing was robbed and beaten nearly to death while on a delivery.

Cheryl Dobbins Nocera, the High Point woman who organized a community fundraiser for the Xing family, was on hand to present a check: $12,000 donated by people who had heard Xing’s story and wanted to help.

“The moment I heard Wang Xing’s story it really touched my heart,” Nocera said to the crowd of a few dozen who showed up in the rain. “I knew our community had to come together to help. And over the last three months the response has been overwhelming.”

Nocera gave Xing an over-sized check and his three small daughters teddy bears donated by the Build-A-Bear Workshop. Xing, 40, smiled throughout the presentation and, through a translator, he told the crowd that he’s on the way to a full recovery.

“I am profoundly touched and thank you all for your help,” Xing said. “There are criminals, but there are far more good people in the community.”

The crowd cheered in agreement.

“I am planning to reopen the restaurant in January,” Xing told the crowd. “Right now what I am focused on is nourishing my body back to health so I can operate our business and make a contribution to the community and society.”

Xing said that after lingering in a coma for weeks and working his way out of High Point Regional Hospital, his family never considered leaving High Point.

“We will stay,” Xing said. “And we’ve been touched by those here whose names we do not know but whose hearts we can feel.”

Contact Joe Killian at 883-4422, Ext. 228 or at joe.killian@news-record.com