Help the Kendall Family Open the Road to Independence
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For the Kendall family of Fairhope, Alabama, getting from point A to point B has become one of the greatest barriers to everyday life.
Ten-year-old Beckham Kendall lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and was recently diagnosed with autism. Duchenne is a progressive neuromuscular disorder causing a lack of motor, pulmonary, and cardiac function.
Over a short and difficult period, Beckham transitioned from walking to not being able to walk at all, a change that reshaped nearly every part of his family’s daily routine. While Beckham has a power wheelchair that gives him comfort and independence, his family is unable to use it outside of their home because they do not have an accessible vehicle.
Instead, Beckham must rely on a manual chair when traveling, one that is physically exhausting for him to use and extremely difficult for his caregivers to lift in and out of their aging, non-accessible van. Beckham’s mom, Kandace, is a Duchenne carrier with bone-related health challenges. His dad, Jason, was recently diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Lifting Beckham and his wheelchair has already caused repeated injuries, and every outing comes with risk, pain, and exhaustion.
The family has recently been forced to cancel critical medical appointments, including long-distance trips to specialists. Without an accessible vehicle, Beckham cannot travel safely in his power chair, limiting his independence and the family’s ability to experience life together.
And yet, Beckham’s world is still full of wonder.
He loves math, board games, movie nights with pizza, and anything chocolate. He dreams of visiting New York City, marveling at tall buildings, and traveling more as a family. One of his favorite memories is a trip to the Grand Canyon, a reminder of how meaningful shared experiences can be when access isn’t a barrier.
Thankfully, the Kendall family was accepted to participate in Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund branch of the Jett Giving Fund, a program where accepted participants raise half or more of the amount needed to purchase an accessible vehicle. Once the fundraising is completed, Jett Foundation purchases directly from the vendor and gifts the vehicle to the participant outright.
An accessible vehicle would be life-changing for the Kendall family. It would allow Beckham to ride safely in his power chair, reduce physical strain on his parents, and open the door to travel, medical care, and family adventures once again. Most importantly, it would restore Beckham’s independence and dignity, letting him move through the world with confidence instead of limitation.
You can help Beckham attain the freedom and independence he deserves by contributing toward his fundraising goal below!
Your support helps give Beckham more than transportation: it gives him freedom, safety, and the chance to fully experience the world he’s so excited to explore.
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.
