AMY O’LOUGHLIN

Family and friends of AMY O’LOUGHLIN are raising money for the nonprofit HELP HOPE LIVE to fund a wheelchair accessible van after a serious collision totaled her current family vehicle. Her mother was driving — and thankfully, her mother’s injuries were not life-threatening.

Amy sustained a catastrophic spinal cord injury when she was a teenager, and she uses a power wheelchair for mobility. Beyond public transportation, a wheelchair accessible van is the only way that Amy can see her family and attend family events. Also, Amy loves to travel, and the lack of a wheelchair accessible van prohibits her ability to journey to destination spots.

Amy attended Boston University and received her master’s degree in writing from Emerson College. She is a published freelance writer; however this has not produced a living wage, and Amy has a limited income. As such, she is unable to finance a wheelchair accessible van on her own. Amy has chosen to fundraise with HELP HOPE LIVE in part because donations are tax-deductible for contributors and will only be used to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses related to her condition, including the cost of an accessible vehicle.

Amy is also an avid Red Sox and Boston Bruins fan. She lives close to Fenway Park — America’s Most Beloved Ballpark — and enjoys the energy and highs and lows of baseball season. For the past 10 years, Amy has participated in the Run to Home Base, a fundraiser cosponsored by the Red Sox Foundation and Mass General Brigham and other corporate organizations to provide clinical care and support to veterans suffering from the invisible wounds of war. Amy travels through the city streets on the 5K route with the goal of raising awareness of veterans who have suffered combat-related spinal cord injuries. The Run to Home Base is the highlight of Amy’s summer and an event that she holds dear to her heart. Giving back to those in need is a fundamental aspect of Amy’s worldview.

And now, Amy needs your help to maintain her independence and bolster her quality of life. Let’s spread the word!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!