Hi friends, I am raising money to help rebuild my late father’s 1996 Pontiac Firebird that was involved in a car accident early last year.

On January 25th, 2023, I, Julia Roldan, was driving the Firebird when my worst nightmare came to life. This car means the world to me and was the last major piece that connected me with my father daily. I hate to say it, but after the impact and coming back to consciousness, I was hoping I didn’t wake up. Losing the Firebird made it feel like I lost my father all over again. The feeling of grief has been heavy over the past year and has taken a mental toll affecting my own recovery process.

I sustained injuries that have prevented me from working since January of last year. I broke my elbow, sustained a concussion, and had 4 staples in the skull for an open wound. I lost my job of over 5 years in April 2023 due to my injuries. To this day, my doctors have not legally cleared me to begin working yet. Since the accident, I have had to move because I could not afford to pay rent on my own any further. It is now a year later and I am still dealing with the head injuries & visiting doctors regularly.

The accident was of no fault of my own and unfortunately the other driver had minimal insurance in the state of Florida. The insurance companies have been of no assistance and have made it so difficult for me to regain possession of my own vehicle to rebuild.

The insurance companies declared the Firebird was a total loss and could not understand why I wanted to repair it. For my fellow car enthusiasts out there & those who have experienced the loss of someone close to you, I know you understand this is more than just a piece of metal. My brother and I grew up watching my father work on the Firebird in his garage and take it drag racing almost every weekend. There are too many memories to count that are attached to this vehicle and that have shaped the individuals we are today.

After my father suddenly passed away in 2010, my brother & I inherited the Firebird but ultimately decided it was best for me to take full ownership when I moved to Miami from New Jersey. The plan was to enjoy my years with the car and care for it as long as possible until I can pass on ownership one day to my brother, Alberto, back in NJ.

So as you can tell, this car is not just a any old car. It’s how we have kept our father’s memory alive.

For those of you who know me personally, you know that I never ask for assistance. So, this is very hard for me to do. But, the medical bills that I have accrued have taken a major toll on me financially since losing my job.

And just like me, the Firebird sustained a lot of cosmetic and internal damages. So, after receiving the invoices for the firebird to be repaired, I must swallow my pride and hope that there are friends, family, and fellow car enthusiasts who are willing to help see this Firebird be reborn again.

The cost to repair the Firebird for parts & labor is $24,972.

ANY PROCEEDS RAISED ABOVE MY GOAL WILL BE DISTRIBUTED EVENLY AND DONATED TO OTHER GOFUNDME PAGES. If any donors would like to make suggestions, please let me know so I can pay it forward!

Thank you all who have been by my side throughout this journey and have been patient with me during recovery. <3