Hi,

My name is Rob, and I am here to help raise money for my friend Jeff.  I met Jeff at my current job, a call center I had been working at for several years. Jeff was on the team I had just joined, and he was quick to make me feel welcome. Our working relationship turned into a great friendship, one that still continues today. 

Jeff has a condition, Olivopontocerebellar degeneration . Jeff, once an individual who had perfectly normal ability to stand and walk around, now has been slowly losing his ability to use his legs and to some extent, his hands with the typical dexterity you and I probably take for granted. 

A discussion that has come up with us and a few other co-workers recently has been about work ethic. Even with his hindered abilities, Jeff comes to work every day like he has for most of his adult life.  Sometimes at work, he gets frustrated. "Why should I keep coming into work, when I could stay at home, and get paid just as much on disability?" Which honestly is a valid point. 

It was causing him such frustration that earlier this year, he wrote a letter expressing this very question, and either emailed or sent letters to many politicians, both local and national. He's received responses from a few. (He even got a call from Hillary Clinton directly!) 

Read Jeff's Letter

Eventually, the conversation between a few of us has transitioned into what options he may have to increase his mobility at work and life in general. 

Things like hoverrounds or other electric wheelchairs came to mind.  After doing some research online, we found something that would be a perfect fit - EZ Lite Cruiser . We’re looking to help fund the deluxe model and a few accessories that would be useful for him.

It would be lighter like his current wheelchair, extremely portable so he could catch a ride with almost anyone, and make it easier for him to get around at home and work.

Anyone who knows Jeff well enough knows he is the type of friend you want in your life. Listening to stories of who he's known and what he has done for so many people in the past makes this more than just a wish list item. This is helping out a friend who could easily just hang it up and utilize the system to his advantage. But his work ethic is strong, and he refuses to just take a hand out when he feels he is perfectly capable to do the job.

There is no hard deadline for this, we’re just some friends of Jeff attempting to better his life, as he’s done for us on so many occasions.

We thank you for your time, and for any assistance, large or small you can help provide.