Raising Funds for an Accessible Van
Most children have the ability to walk – maybe even run – at two years old. For Pranav Kumaresan and his family, a second birthday included the diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disorder causing a loss of motor, pulmonary, and cardiac function. Now 15 years old, Pranav relies on power and manual wheelchairs to get around, including to school and medical appointments.
Living in New Market, Maryland, Pranav is cared for by his parents, Kumar and Gokulalakshmi, and has one younger sister. The family continues to experience challenges every day as Pranav requires his power wheelchair to move independently while leaving the home. And, having to manually lift Pranav into their small vehicle, his parents face a great risk of injury each time they transport him.
“No matter the trip, someone has to be by Pranav’s side at all times,” says his father. “Because of this, we avoid leaving the house and are not able to give him what he wants or needs.” Pranav’s greatest interests are sports and games, which he can’t watch in person due to transportation challenges. His father shares, “If we could just have him roll his power wheelchair into our vehicle, we could take him everywhere in a safe way. Having an accessible van would make life so much easier for us.”
The Kumaresan family are participants in Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund branch of the Jett Giving Fund. This arm of support partners with families in the Duchenne community to raise half or more of the necessary funds for their accessible vehicle before Jett Foundation covers the remaining expenses and purchases the vehicle outright.
The Kumaresan family has met their fundraising goal and received accessible transportation thanks to supporters like you! You can still support our program and future program participants with a gift to Jett Foundation today:
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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.
