A Buggy for Bobby
Donation protected
Loving father. Loyal friend, brother and son. Volunteer firefighter. Town hero. These are just a few ways to describe lifelong Sherburne resident, Bobby Aikins. Bobby graduated from Sherburne Earlville highschool in 1972 and went on to work in the automotive industry for thirty-four years. He became a volunteer firefighter for the Sherburne Fire Dept. in March of 1979.
Bobby was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in January of 1986, an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. Over the years, our family has slowly watched Bobby go from doing things he loved like playing outside with his sons, to walking with a cane, then a walker and permanently being bound to a wheel chair.
The mobility in Bobby's legs deteriorated first and then he was declared legally blind. His parents, Bob and Mary Jean Aikins of Sherburne began making three to four trips down the street to his house everyday to check on him, make his meals and care for him. After that became too much for them, they sold their home to move in with Bobby and be his primary caretakers. Not an easy task for two people in their eighties.
Bobby spends most of his days in his recliner because simply moving from scooter to chair is a task in itself.
The one thing that made it a little easier was a 20 year old converted handicap van with over 200,000 miles on it that a family friend generously gave to Bobby about three years ago. It became his only means of transportation to doctor's appointments and your occasional town event but it has officially expired. This benefit is being held to get him a new van and more specifically, this page is to raise the down payment!
Despite his circumstances, Bobby's attitude is truly remarkable. Although he can't help much, he still enjoys volunteering at the firehouse as PR man for their pancake breakfasts. He doesn't complain, he doesn't blame other people and he laughs all the time. He may have lost mobility in his body but we can give him some of that back with a new set of wheels.
Bobby was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in January of 1986, an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. Over the years, our family has slowly watched Bobby go from doing things he loved like playing outside with his sons, to walking with a cane, then a walker and permanently being bound to a wheel chair.
The mobility in Bobby's legs deteriorated first and then he was declared legally blind. His parents, Bob and Mary Jean Aikins of Sherburne began making three to four trips down the street to his house everyday to check on him, make his meals and care for him. After that became too much for them, they sold their home to move in with Bobby and be his primary caretakers. Not an easy task for two people in their eighties.
Bobby spends most of his days in his recliner because simply moving from scooter to chair is a task in itself.
The one thing that made it a little easier was a 20 year old converted handicap van with over 200,000 miles on it that a family friend generously gave to Bobby about three years ago. It became his only means of transportation to doctor's appointments and your occasional town event but it has officially expired. This benefit is being held to get him a new van and more specifically, this page is to raise the down payment!
Despite his circumstances, Bobby's attitude is truly remarkable. Although he can't help much, he still enjoys volunteering at the firehouse as PR man for their pancake breakfasts. He doesn't complain, he doesn't blame other people and he laughs all the time. He may have lost mobility in his body but we can give him some of that back with a new set of wheels.
Organizer
Cassidy Lynn Alexander
Organizer
Sherburne, NY
