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Jimmy G. Fund - Help a 16 year-old Warrior

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The family of Jimmy Galpin, one of my current Bunnell High School students, needs your help. I'm asking my family, friends, current and former colleagues, and most especially my former student graduates from Naugatuck High School and Farmington High School to take a minute to read on, and then make a donation (whatever you can do is appreciated). I have tried my best to inspire others over the years, from youth athletes, to students and adults. And now, a student has returned the favor and inspired me. Here's that student's story.

Imagine for a moment, you're in Colorado taking in the majesty of the Rocky Mountains, or driving along the Pacific Coast Highway marveling at the beautiful scenes that open up at each turn, or peering over the rim of the Grand Canyon, with overwhelming admiration for the wonder of the earth and beyond.  Now, imagine yourself not being able to see it at all. Your "wonder" experience would have to come from your mind, with the the assistance of others describing the view.

Jimmy Galpin is a junior student in my Personal Finance II class at Bunnell High School in Stratford, Connecticut. Jimmy is totally blind. In my first year at Bunnell, not knowing who he was, I witnessed the Sophomore moving throughout the packed hallways at passing time with agility and purpose like none other I've seen. I imagined how difficult life must be for him, while also fully admiring his determination.

And then as I reviewed my rosters at the start of this school year, his name appeared. So now I would learn who Jimmy truly was. And I can only tell you that in the past six months he has inspired me like nobody before him.

And now, I am offering you the chance to inspire Jimmy as part of a two-student project led by my students, fellow juniors Meghan Fenton and Ryan Kingston, to raise much needed funds for Jimmy and his family.  And while his story starts with Retinoblastoma that took his eyesight at age two, in the middle of a 100-year pandemic, Jimmy had yet another mountain to climb this past summer, fall and winter

Jimmy was on vacation this past summer in July when his ability to enjoy swimming and just take in the sunshine on a casual walk was hampered. After many tests, in August he was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma.

As Jimmy was working his way through tough treatments, with total confidence in a perfect outcome, he was nominated for a USMC Sports "Fighting Spirit" award, as a member of the Bunnell High School Wrestling team. The award recognizes those who have fought through incredible adversity to win, again and again. The award comes from the heart and soul of the mission of the United States Marine Corps. While vote competition from other nominees (all incredible fighters) was fierce, I'm proud to say that Jimmy came out on top!

Today, Jimmy has completed his treatment plan and has recently completed all post-treatment testing. All signs indicate a full remission is likely!

Your donation will go direct to Jimmy's family to help cover the costs associated with his treatment and loss of parent income during the treatment cycles.

A special thanks to my students Meghan and Ryan for taking on such an important cause to work hard to help out your fellow classmate, who just happens to be a USMC approved Warrior!

Thank you.

Tim Reilly

Donations 

  • Maria Lycoudes
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Stephen Humanick
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Antone Grant Chalmers
    • $50 
    • 3 yrs
  • Karen Marrotte
    • $25 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $20 
    • 3 yrs

Organizer and beneficiary

Timothy Reilly
Organizer
Stratford, CT
Kristi Bacik
Beneficiary

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