Meet the Cauthens. Shawn, Emily, and Austin Cauthen to be specific. Austin is 14 years old and has a genetic muscle disorder called Myotubular Myopathy. He requires a wheel chair to get around and therefore needs a wheelchair accessible vehicle. Shawn is a school resource officer at Andrew Jackson High School in Kershaw and Emily is a full time caregiver for Austin. Austin is on a ventilator and needs 24 hour 'eyes on' care and Emily stays awake every night to care for him. A nurse covers the day-shift while Shawn works.

Over 7 years ago the community came together to help raise money for a wheel chair van for Austin. That van has been their lifeline and has been an incredible blessing. Unfortunately, it seems that van has begun to reach the end of it's life. 6 recent trips to the repair shop, 2 tows, and a whole bunch of repair payments have signaled that it is time to start looking for a new long-term option. Most of Austin's appointments are all the way in downtown Charlotte, and the family lives in Lancaster. The safety and reliability of the old van is in question, so we've decided to begin fundraising for something safer.

Wheel chair accessible vehicles are incredibly expensive. Emily and Shawn both have been experiencing medical problems of their own as well. They live on that single income, which presents challenges for paying for a newer vehicle. With that in mind, we are asking for the community to come together to support us in helping fund a new vehicle for this family. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide!