By Amanda Pevey
Wheels for Dallas had a lemonade stand fundraiser on Saturday in front of The GAB Salon located at 102 South Main Street in Wetumpka. They had an incredible turnout, totaling $1,817.61 in donations. They are fundraising for an accessible van so that his family will be able to get Dallas to appointments with much more ease. The family’s goal for an accessible van is $65,000. The fundraiser is being hosted through My DMD Hero, a non-profit organization. Any monetary donations are a tax deductible.
Dallas is in sixth grade at Holtville Middle School and has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). He lost the ability to walk shortly after he turned nine years old and now wheelchair bound. He lives with his father, Jeremy Barnes, stepmom, Jennifer Stewart, and his three sisters, Emma Barnes, Ammy Malpartida, and Frankie Barnes in Wetumpka.
“The outpouring of support from this community has been heart warming and beyond what we could have ever imagined,” said Dallas’s Stepmom, Jennifer Stewart. She continued, “So many people that we’ve never met have reached out to offer advice, support, donations, and so many other forms of encouragement. I know how difficult it can be for a small business to keep their doors open, but these owners have been more then generous. It has been incredible. Thank you to everyone that came by the lemonade stand, donated, shared our posts, or just honked as they passed by.”
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common but most severe form of muscular dystrophy, usually only affecting boys. It has not been until somewhat recent strides in medicine that the life expectancy for those with DMD can reach age 30 or above. DMD affects every muscle in their bodies, often causing cardio or respiratory complications and most children losing the ability to walk by age 13. Because of DMD, Dallas has routine clinicals at Children’s in Birmingham in which he sees several doctors to keep an eye on his lung power, heart health, overall muscle health, X-rays to determine how much his scoliosis has advanced, bone density scans, blood sugar tests and more.
“I want to thank everyone for the support,” said Dallas. He continued, “It is really cool that so many people care about me!”
Wheels for Dallas has a benefit concert planned for December 2nd in Montgomery at The Sanctuary. They will have a food truck, door prizes that were donated from several small businesses in Elmore and Autauga counties, and three musical acts: The Alex Walker Band, Webb Dalton & Friends, and Face the World.
If you would like to make a monetary contribution to help the family reach their goal for an accessible van for Dallas, please visit the link; http://wheelsfordallas.com. You can also make a monetary donation by Venmo, @WheelsforDallas. A Facebook page has also been set up where they are updating fundraiser efforts and a full transparency on fundraising amounts/donations. Please visit the Facebook page at: www.Facebook.com/wheelsfordallas. Please make sure to like, follow, and share the page.
