Give Trenton a Lift
Give Trenton a Lift
Local family looking for assistance in son’s need of transport vehicle
At the beginning of October 2020, the family of Trenton Pierce of Great Valley organized a donation drive with the goal of raising funds to purchase an all-accessible mobile home. The home, which will accommodate Trenton’s needs — who is diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) — was ordered successfully and is set to be installed at the start of the upcoming spring season. Amidst the relief of securing a new home unit, Trenton fractured his femur after falling later that month, leaving him with another setback on his condition.
During his long battle with DMD, which gradually wears down muscular tissue, Trenton’s ability to walk has been increasingly compromised and now needs the help of a wheelchair to maneuver his way around. The requirement of a wheelchair has made it difficult for Trenton to travel to his regular doctor appointments, which demand a two-hour drive to Rochester.
Trenton’s family has continued to safely transport Trenton to his medical exams by fitting him in their personal vehicle. But the slow loss of his ability to walk has resulted in the need of a new solution.
“We really have no way to properly transport him; it’s becoming more and more difficult for us and for him,” Jordan Pierce, Trenton’s mother said. “My husband has to take off from work, fit him in the car, which isn’t easy and we have to hope that it all goes smoothly.”
Shortly after Trenton’s injury in October, which has since been treated, his family began looking at possible options toward obtaining a transport van that will accommodate a wheelchair. Despite a number of Medicaid-funded van conversions to fit Trenton’s needs, the cost of an accessible-friendly van is upwards of $20,000. After financing a new housing unit in 2020 with the help of community donations, Trenton’s family is faced with yet another substantial purchase.
In an effort to help Trenton’s family with the additional cost of an accessible van, Michelle Wasserman, a long-time friend of Jordan, organized a virtual fundraiser through GoFundMe with the goal of raising $18,000. The fundraiser is named “Give Trenton a Lift,” inspired after Trenton’s grandmother Joanie Weichmann who spent more than 15 years of her life as a lift attendant at Holiday Valley Ski Resort. The suggested donation amount of $78 is also the same cost of a general ski-lift ticket, further inviting people who are willing to help raise the overall goal of the campaign.
The “Give Trenton a Lift” fundraiser has currently raised a quarter of the funds Trenton’s family seeks. As donations continue to come in from Facebook users, community members and more, Trenton’s parents hope they will be able to make his everyday life easier.
“I am absolutely thankful for everybody,” Jordan said. “Our previous donation drive totally surpassed my expectations. We are all so grateful for the help and donations everyone has provided.”
With Trenton’s ADA-approved housing unit soon to be installed, the added ease of a transportation van will help him and his family continue the fight against DMD. Those interested in donating to “Give Trenton a Lift” can visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/give-trenton-a-lift. The family also encourages you to follow the campaign’s Facebook page for weekly updates on Trenton and the cause.