Tobias (9) and Jedediah (6) Robinson are brothers from Clinton, TN and live with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. They are cared for by their parents, Eric and Amanda, and have a younger sister, Harper (3).
Duchenne has impacted the Robinson family since the boys were initially diagnosed at a young age. Recently, Tobias lost the ability to move independently and relies on a power chair. Jedediah relies on a convaid stroller for longer distances and to conserve as much energy as possible. He will soon be making the transition into a wheelchair for safety.
The family struggled to transport themselves safely and could not bring wheelchairs with them in their previous vehicle. Amanda says, “Having an accessible vehicle means traveling to medical appointments safely, as well as being able to transport their chairs to-and-from school.”
As participants in Jett Foundation’s Accessible Vehicle Fund branch of the Jett Giving Fund, the Robinson family fundraised half the funds needed or more for their accessible vehicle. Jett Foundation then stepped in to cover remaining costs and coordinate purchase of the vehicle.
On May 29, 2023, the Robinson Family finally sat behind the wheel of their new, safe and accessible vehicle and now have the ability to transport their boys wherever they need to go. The Jett Giving Fund program would not be possible without our dedicated partners in the community such as Cure Dale’s Duchenne, who recently gifted Jett Foundation with a $1 million dollar gift in support of its Jett Giving Fund program. “The need is now. This community is in need now. The research will come, but if we all gave a little now, we could greatly improve the lives of families and their children right now,” says the Ginder Family, founders of Cure Dale’s Duchenne.
Established in 2017, Jett Giving Fund has helped transform the lives of countless families across the country with over $3.5 million worth of accessible equipment and emergency assistance thanks to the generous support of individual donors, local communities, and major sponsors including Cure Dale’s Duchenne, Fibrogen, the Flatley Foundation, the Killian Family, Michael’s Cause, Ryan’s Quest, Sarepta Therapeutics and Ultragenyx.
You can help us to support more families through the two branches of Jett Giving Fund: the Accessible Vehicle Fund and the Emergency Fund. Donate today or learn more about becoming a sponsor by emailing [email protected].
If you or someone you know is in need of support or would like more information on our Jett Giving Fund, please visit https://www.jettfoundation.org/giving-fund/.
