Fundraising for an Accessible Van
Unlike most families who watch their children grow to play with peers and spend weekdays at school, the Tangsali family of Flower Mound, Texas has struggled with challenges brought on by their two sons’ Duchenne muscular dystrophy diagnosis. Duchenne is a progressive neuromuscular disorder causing a loss of motor, pulmonary, and cardiac function.
Neil (13) and Neivaan (10) were diagnosed at very young ages, losing their ability to walk and move about independently over time. They both utilize power wheelchairs full-time. To eliminate the risk of injury and exposure to everyday dangers, the Tangsali family stays home most of the year. When they leave the home, it is to attend vital medical appointments oftentimes up to 16 hours away. And, their father Tushar must manually lift them into their current vehicle.
Tushar shares, “Both my wife Shwetambari and I have injured ourselves lifting the boys. We are no longer able to get them anywhere in a safe way.”
The Tangsali family has connected with Jett Foundation through conferences, workshops, and family support groups. Tushar is also a Jett Foundation Community Ambassador, providing assistance to others in the Duchenne community who are on a similar journey to his: “Every time I attend a conference, I see families who are exactly as we were when the kids were first diagnosed. Some feel like it’s the end of the world and some are excited to learn more about therapies and resources. As a Jett ambassador, I try to help them understand more about Duchenne.”
As participants in Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund branch of the Jett Giving Fund, the Tangsali family is aiming 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 Tangsali 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:
Donate Today
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.
