Can you help me with these two problems in this sentence?

When I learnt that it could help raise money for stray animals, I made up my mind like the other almost 50 participants.

1. Doesn't as well as sound more appropriate than like here?
2. I can get what the author meant by the other almost 50 participants but it really looks weard to me. Is everything OK with this phrase?

Can you help me with these two problems in this sentence?

When I learnt that it could help raise money for stray animals, I made up my mind like the other almost 50 participants.

1. Doesn't as well as sound more appropriate than like here?
2. I can get what the author meant by the other almost 50 participants but it really looks weird to me. Is everything OK with this phrase?

Can you, please, help me to deal with 2 problems in this sentence?

When I learnt that it could help raise money for stray animals, I made up my mind like the other almost 50 participants.

1. Doesn't as well as sound more appropriate than like here?
2. I can get what the author meant by the other almost 50 participants but it really looks weard to me. Is everything OK with this phrase?

Can you help me with these two problems in this sentence?

When I learnt that it could help raise money for stray animals, I made up my mind like the other almost 50 participants.

1. Doesn't as well as sound more appropriate than like here?
2. I can get what the author meant by the other almost 50 participants but it really looks weard to me. Is everything OK with this phrase?