Isaiah Gomez (13-years-old from Manchester, NH) and his family, were given the keys to a full size wheelchair accessible van by Ride-Away Vice President, Jaime Kuczewski, during an emotional ceremony at Ride-Away’s Corporate Offices.
Van donated by Ride-Away out of Londonderry, NH for Isaiah Gomez, who has been actively living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) disease since he was 4 years old.
Londonderry, NH -During a very moving ceremony at Ride-Away’s Corporate Offices in Londonderry, NH this past Wednesday, Jaime Kuczewski, Vice President of Ride-Away (America’s largest provider of modified vehicles and adaptive equipment for people with disabilities) handed off the keys of a wheelchair accessible van to Isaiah Gomez (a 13-year-old boy from Manchester, NH, who has been actively living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) disease since he was 4 years old) and his family.
Ride-Away receives several requests throughout the year for van donations from various families and organizations, and although the company would like to fulfill all of these requests, it is unfortunately not possible. However, Ride-Away contributes over 10 percent of its earnings to non-profit organizations and has an 85 percent employee volunteerism rate in charitable activities year after year.
“Our corporate culture is one built upon always doing the right thing and making a difference in the communities we live and work in,” Jaime Kuczewski said. “I knew about Isaiah Gomez’s story, so when I heard that Isaiah and his aunt, Sandy Deneault, were in need of a full-size wheelchair accessible van, I knew we needed to do what we could to get them the vehicle they so desperately needed and deserved. After tellingMark Lore, President and CEO of Ride-Away, about Isaiah and his family, we agreed that with the combination of Mark’s generosity and donations from our employees (that I had accumulated through my own fundraising efforts), we would be able to provide this inspirational family with a wheelchair accessible van that exceeds their current needs.”
“Every year, after all of our company’s donations were given, I found myself constantly thinking about those other families and amazing organizations that also needed our help. I knew that our employees felt the same way – frustrated that we could not give to all that were in need,” Kuczewski said. “In these tough economic times, these organizations and individuals need our help more than ever, which is why I created our ‘Comfort for a Cause’ donation program. This program gives employees the opportunity to purchase a pin for $5.00 that allows themto wear jeans on any day of the week. Since the inception of the program in August 2008, we have raised over $6,000,
which has allowed us to assist multiple families and organizations. I am eternally grateful to be a part of a team that truly cares about making a positive impact in the lives of others and that also have been inspired by the philanthropy of Ride-Away.”
DMD is a genetic disorder that is characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness that begins with microscopic changes in the muscle, causing degeneration to the muscle over time. The onset of this disease is early childhood, generally 2-6 years-old, and symptoms aregeneralized weakness and muscle wasting that first affects the muscles of the hips, pelvic area, thighs and shoulder. This disease affects boys almost exclusively, and by their early teens, the boy’s heart and respiratory muscles could also be affected. This terrible, debilitating disease very rarely sees anyone survive past 30 years of age.
Over the years, Isaiah has overcome many exceptionally unique hardships that started just 6 months after he was diagnosed with DMD, when his mother tragically passed away in a terrible motor vehicle accident. Isaiah was then taken in by his aunt, Sandy Daneault, to live with her and her family, despite their own hardships they had been facing. As Isaiah grows and develops, his needs and abilities continue to change. Having recently been fitted with a larger power wheelchair, Isaiah has outgrown his current means of transportation, so his family has to rely on transportation agencies to provide a means of traveling for him to school and medical appointments. Within this past year, Isaiah has undergone a spinal fusion surgery, and is expected to undergo many more surgeries within the next couple of years. Since the transportation company can only take him to school and appointments, he is not able to enjoy such things as going to the movies, going to the park, or simply going out for a drive with his family.
Although Isaiah has encountered many misfortunes throughout his life, he does not allow those obstacles to keep him from enjoying life. He has become an advocate for other families and helps to create awareness and educate others about DMD. Isaiah is well known throughout the MDA community, and has served as an ambassador for the MDA on many occasions. In 2004, the MDA’s Trans New Hampshire Bike Ride was dedicated to him because of his efforts in helping others with DMD. He has not let his life become negatively affected by his lack of mobility. Instead, he has used his cheerful, encouraging, and overwhelmingly optimistic outlook on life to have an enormously positive impact on each person he speaks to. Isaiah is truly a special person and has more of a positive impact on people’s lives at the age of 13 than most adults do. “This is amazing,” said Isaiah. “I now have the freedom to do things that I haven’t been able to do before.”
Now Isaiah and The Daneault Family will have the freedom to go places and experience the things they once could not as a family. Isaiah and his family are looking forward to their first family vacation, and Isaiah is especially looking forward to partaking in one of his favorite activities, going to the movies.During a time when the news has so many sad stories, an inspiring, encouraging story such as this can lift the spirits of so many, and give hope to those that might have once thought that there were no options for them. Isaiah and his story will continue to inspire not only those with DMD, but those looking for some peace within themselves.
