Helping Samuel Keep Moving Forward
Samuel Dunn is a joyful, fun-loving 13-year-old with a contagious laugh and a competitive spirit. He loves football, playing Roblox, swimming in his family’s backyard pool, and spending time with the people who mean the most to him, especially during summers and holidays when his older siblings come home from college.
Samuel was adopted from China at the age of three and officially diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2022. Duchenne is a progressive neuromuscular disorder that causes a lack of motor, pulmonary, and cardiac function. Today, Samuel relies full-time on a power wheelchair to move independently and safely.
Despite the physical challenges Duchenne brings, Samuel’s outlook remains remarkably positive. He loves to laugh, joke around, and fully engage in family life. But one major barrier is standing in his way: transportation.
The Dunn family’s current vehicles are not equipped to transport Samuel’s power wheelchair. Without an accessible vehicle, Samuel’s power wheelchair cannot travel with him, therapy recommendations are difficult to fully implement, medical progress is limited by logistics rather than need, and family outings are restricted.
Right now, even routine trips require difficult workarounds, or simply don’t happen at all.
Samuel’s parents, Brian and Whitney, are deeply committed to learning how to support their son through every stage of a Duchenne journey. Still, their focus remains on Samuel’s quality of life.
Through Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund, the Dunn family is working to raise half or more of the cost of a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. Once their goal is reached, Jett Foundation will step in to help cover the remaining costs and coordinate the purchase and delivery of a vehicle that meets Samuel’s needs.
Thanks to the support of their local community and Jett Giving Fund sponsors, the Dunn family has finished fundraising and will be receiving their accessible van.
All donations to Jett Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed under applicable law and is an unrestricted contribution to the Jett Giving Fund. The family is working to raise half the funds needed for their van or more; when they reach their goal, Jett Foundation will cover the remaining costs and coordinate purchase and delivery of the vehicle.