Hi my name is Nate Key! I'm a young man who's got dreams and a strong drive to change the world for the greater good. I started this fundraiser to ask for support as I work toward a more independent and impactful future. Right now, I need a vehicle equipped with the mobility features that will allow me to safely commute, giving my drive some literal wheels and helping me stay active, connected, and moving forward.

Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved doing what others might call “crazy” like taking apart my dad’s electronics just to figure out how they worked, then trying to put them back together better than before. If I saw something that could be improved, I wanted to engineer the solution even when it came to my everyday life. I dreamed of becoming a pilot, soaring through the skies and maybe even serving in the armed forces. But as time passed, my family and I discovered that I had a condition called Collagen VI Bethlem Myopathy—a rare muscular disease that would change the course of my life forever. It took away my ability to do things most kids take for granted: running, jumping, even chasing certain goals like becoming a traditional pilot. But the thing is, it never really fazed me. It became a part of who I am so early in life that I never saw it as a barrier. Instead, it taught me patience, heightened my awareness, and showed me that there's always more than one path to the same goal. In middle school, my dad introduced me to a whole new world of piloting through FPV (first-person view) drones. That moment changed everything. I wasn’t grounded…I was airborne again. From that day forward, my engineering brain kicked into high gear. I started designing new parts for my first quadcopter, and even used my school’s 3D printer to bring them to life.

That passion propelled me into college, where I was honored to receive a scholarship to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, thanks to the support of the Carlsbad Education Foundation and the Judith Campbell Foundation. College life has been everything I dreamed of: learning alongside future aerospace pioneers, turning ideas into prototypes, and hopefully pushing my own drone company closer to lift-off. But building dreams isn’t always smooth flying. My condition, Collagen VI Bethlem Myopathy, means I rely on specialized medical equipment to navigate life independently. As I transition to living and working on my own, I’ve reached a major obstacle: I need a modified truck that can accommodate over $100,000 worth of accessibility installations equipment that makes driving possible, safe, and sustainable for me.

This truck isn’t just a vehicle to me—it’s freedom and a better future. It’s the difference between reaching clients for hands-on drone work or missing out. It’s the key to becoming a useful individual to society, attending campus, and living life with autonomy.

I'm sure you remember what it felt like getting your first car—the possibilities, the sense of independence, the feeling that your life was finally in motion. That’s what this truck represents to me.

Every contribution—no matter the size—brings me one step closer to breaking this barrier and continuing the mission I’ve built from the ground up. If you can share this, support it, or simply cheer me on, it means the world.

In the photos: You'll see me, Nate Key—the truck I’m currently unable to drive due to medical equipment limitations—and the scooter I use as a substitute for a bike. These images represent both the roadblocks and the resilience behind this journey. Thank you for taking the time to look, read, and support.