Raising Funds for an Accessible Van
The Dinh Family lives in Dracut, Massachusetts, and is currently navigating life with a Duchenne muscular dystrophy diagnosis. Steven (14) and Simon (10) Dinh were diagnosed with Duchenne at a very young age. They have had to face many challenges as the disease progressively takes a larger toll on their bodies. They also have a younger brother, Dennis, who was born in 2021.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a progressive neuromuscular disorder that causes a loss of motor, pulmonary, and cardiac function. Steven and Simon rely on power chairs to move about and are cared for full-time by their parents, Kristina and Si. Steven and Simon enjoy cooking, playing video games, and learning at school.
Steven and Simon must be lifted into their current vehicle to leave the home, as their chairs do not fit. Their parents have experienced injury and exhaustion from manually lifting each boy and can no longer do it on their own. Kristina was forced to leave her job to care for the boys.
The Dinh Family also had a hard time confronting their Duchenne diagnosis for many years. Through Jett Foundation Family Support Groups and assistance from the community, the family has been able to open up and accept help.
“For a long time, we tried to hide what our family was going through as we saw it as a negative,” says Kristina and Si. “In Vietnamese culture, it can be thought of as doing something wrong in a past life to receive a diagnosis like Duchenne. But we know now that we need to do our best to support the boys and give them a good life.”
Traveling to medical appointments, school, tutoring, and daily activities is unsafe and inaccessible for the Dinh Family. Kristina and Si share, “An accessible van would allow us to leave the home together and safely. We would be able to bring their proper medical equipment with us and show them new places like they deserve.”
As participants in Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund branch of the Jett Giving Fund, the Dinh Family will aim to raise half or more of the funds needed for their accessible vehicle before Jett Foundation steps in to cover the remaining costs and purchase the vehicle outright.
You can help Steven and Simon attain the freedom and independence they deserve by contributing toward their fundraising goal below!
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.
Support the Dinh family with a donation today!
About Jett Giving Fund’s Accessible Vehicle Fund
Jett Giving Fund is Jett Foundation’s financial assistance program for families impacted by Duchenne muscular dystrophy who are in need of accessible vehicles or emergency support. As part of the Accessible Vehicle Fund, families fundraise half the funds needed or more for an accessible vehicle, and Jett Foundation covers the remaining costs once they reach their goal.
If other resources have already been used to meet a specific need, if there is no longer a specific need, and/or if donations have been received in excess of a specific need, donations made in furtherance of a specific need will be applied for general purposes of the Jett Giving Fund. If the Jett Giving Fund no longer exists, all donations will be applied to further the general charitable mission of Jett Foundation.
