Transportation for Timmy

My cousin Timmy Wolford Jr. of Hagerstown, Maryland lives with Cerebral Palsy. CP significantly affects Timmy’s mobility and muscle tone making him wheelchair bound. Timmy often describes Cerebral Palsy as “a painful curse of a disease” but from his outlook on life and his sense of humor you would never know just how limiting his condition can truly be.

Although Timmy thoroughly enjoys playing video games like Mortal Kombat and snuggling with the McWolffolds (his two cats) from the comfort of his home, he often misses out on seemly simple activities like eating a meal at a restaurant, going out for a haircut, or going to the casino. Currently, Timmy does not have an accessible vehicle to help him live his life outside of his home. It’s time to change that!

Unfortunately, accessible transportation in the city of Hagerstown has proven to be unreliable and incredibly frustrating to work with. Despite having appointments booked well in advance, there have been numerous occasions where transport had either called last minute to cancel or had simply not shown up. Most recently, Timmy planned to see the new Mario movie in theaters. His excitement quickly vanished when the bus didn’t show up. His lack of reliable transportation has affected not only his personal life but also his professional life. Timmy was scheduled for college course exams and ran into the same issue with transportation not showing up or canceling last minute. These circumstances created a significant barrier to his success in his course work. Attending vital medical appointments and physical therapy has also proven to be a seemingly impossible feat.

Our goal is to raise $25,000 to assist Timmy in purchasing a wheelchair accessible van. He is currently looking at a Ford Transit Van. Without already having a ramp installed, basic models of vans large enough to accommodate Timmy’s wheelchair cost over $30,000 used. Purchase of a ramp and costs associated with installation will also be needed in addition to the money we raise. I truly believe that reliable transportation is a necessity and a basic right despite a person’s “ability” status. Timmy has gone far too long without being able to live his life to its full capacity. Confinement to our homes is something we can each identify with to a degree as most of us experienced that short-term during the pandemic. Now imagine that as your daily reality.

For those who know Timmy and those who haven't had the pleasure of meeting him, he is a friend to all. He brightens a room with his infectious laugh and quick wit. Please consider donating to our transportation fund to help Timmy have the chance to brighten up even more rooms.