Bill Graveland, THE CANADIAN PRESS

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CALGARY - A Brazilian exchange student who lost both of his eyes after being hit by a stray bullet four months ago got to experience life in the fast lane Wednesday.

Jose Neto and his girlfriend Roberta Porto were invited to ride the bobsled at Canada Olympic Park. Neto, who admitted he was a bit nervous before the ride, was flushed with excitement after crossing the finish line at the bottom of the bobsled run.

"My mind created some lights passing so fast. It was really nice man," he said.

"The G-force was really strong. It was better than I thought."

Bobsled is something that he and many Brazilians are very aware of because of a movie about the Jamaican bobsled team that competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

Neto, 24, was hit by a stray bullet while walking with his girlfriend after having dinner in Calgary's Chinatown in September.

Doctors had initially hoped to at least restore partial vision but were unable to save Neto's eyesight and had to remove both of his eyes.

The ride was purchased as part of a silent auction and given as a gift to Neto.

"I had a fundraising event in August where I was offering bobsled rides on the track, so somebody bought the ride, but instead of using it himself he wanted to re-donate it to something," said Trevor Irwin, who piloted the bobsled.

"I had heard Neto's story and we thought it would be really cool if we could Neto down on this ride."

Neto said that he has been paying attention to the gang situation in Calgary after an innocent bystander was shot and killed on New Year's day.

Keni Su'a, 43, a Christian who came to Canada as a missionary, was eating alone at the Bolsa Restaurant when gunfire erupted.

The gunmen were targeting known gang member Sanjeev Mann, 22, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest, and his associate Aaron Bendle, 21. Both men died in the attack.

Su'a was shot while trying to flee the restaurant. In addition to the triple murder there have been a series of gang-related shootings in the past week.

"I feel so sorry about the family because I know how they are feeling now," Neto said.

"My Mom was so sad and my Dad when they came here. I feel so sad because when you go out to have a lunch or go out for a walk with your girlfriend and you get shot - it changes everything."