Community Fundraising to Help 7-Year-Old with Disabilities Get Van

Emily Progin, Content Manager

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COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING TO HELP 7-YEAR-OLD WITH DISABILITIES GET VAN

Help Oliver Garcia Cruise in Style: Smart and Stylish Local Kid with Cerebral Palsy

HELENA, Ala.—The Helena community is rallying to fund a critical need for beloved 7-year-old Oliver Garcia, who is living with cerebral palsy. Oliver’s family needs an accessible van to keep him rolling in style and engaging with the community he loves. Partnering with the trusted medical fundraising nonprofit Help Hope Live, Oliver’s loved ones have raised $1,290 towards their goal to secure a new van for the Garcia family and change Oliver’s life.

Oliver was born in 2016 at just 23 weeks. He spent his early life battling life-threatening illness, but as mom Tamaryn explained, “he was born a fighter and he is still a fighter, working hard in everything he does.” Oliver sustained a brain injury due to the effect of some of the rare illnesses he fought in infancy—as a result, he is living with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

Oliver has limited use of his hands and cannot move his mouth and tongue to speak aloud. However, as Tamaryn said, “none of that has stopped him from being successful in life.”

He is a dedicated student, an avid reader, and a math and spelling wiz in the making. He pairs his academic prowess with a superb attitude—Oliver is Mr. Congeniality, a friend to all he meets, a snappy dresser, and a 7-year-old full of pride and potential.

Oliver’s family wants the very best for their beloved overachiever. He needs a highly specialized accessible vehicle to be able to continue traveling to medical appointments and community events safely—he will outgrow his family’s current vehicle soon—but insurance won’t help with the cost despite its medical necessity. That leaves the Garcia family on the hook for $70,000 or more out-of-pocket.

That’s why their community of support turned to the nonprofit Help Hope Live for medical fundraising. Tax-deductible donations can be made at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/22296/

The campaign has raised over $1,200 since June.

The Garcia family chose Help Hope Live in part because unlike a GoFundMe campaign, donations to Help Hope Live are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. “We are so thankful that an organization like Help Hope Live exists,” Tamaryn said. “It enables donations to be tax deductible, whereas with other crowdfunding sites, donations are considered personal gifts.”

All funds raised will be managed by the nonprofit to cover verified medical and related expenses. Help Hope Live verifies medical and financial need for every patient.

“We are so thankful for our amazing little fighter,” said Tamaryn. “We appreciate any donations that you might feel led to give after reading our story. We thank God for all he does.”

Help Hope Live is a national nonprofit that specializes in engaging communities in secure, tax-deductible fundraising campaigns for people who need a transplant or are affected by a catastrophic injury or illness. Since 1983, campaigns organized by Help Hope Live have raised over $172 million to pay patient expenses. ###