Family praises community efforts to fundraise for new disability buggy
The adult jogging stroller was stolen from the family's home in White Oaks last week
The mom of a disabled man whose disability jogging stroller was stolen from the family's yard says she's delighted by community fundraising efforts to purchase a new one.
"I'm over the moon," Meda Riley said Friday.
Last week, her son Jordan's buggy was stolen from outside their home in White Oaks. The 20-year-old lives with cognitive and physical disabilities and needs it for support to sit up if he wants to be outside.
It allowed Riley to jog with Jordan, something she promised to do if he ever took unassisted steps after years of physical and occupational therapy.
"He just loves it. He grins while I'm running," Riley said.
After hearing the family's story, several community members reached out to help the family buy a new stroller, which costs more than $3,000.
When Forest City Road Races offered to raise funds, Riley jumped on board because the organization also contributes to the Thames Valley Children's Foundation, where Jordan has been a frequent client.
Those two organizations teamed up with the Children's Health Foundation and within 48 hours, the money was raised. The foundation has upped the limit to $10,000, so any money raised from now on will go toward other families who need help financing disability jogging strollers.
"This is really showing the community how much special needs equipment costs. The costs are really high," Riley said.
Training begins
Because the community raised so much money so quickly, Riley said she wants to raise her own stakes as well: she's going to run a half-marathon at next year's Forest City Road Races, a distance she has not run in the past.
"Jordan and I have done 5Ks and 10Ks but not a half," she said. "Last time when I was training, I didn't train with Jordan, and that was a mistake because pushing 100 lbs of kid and stroller is very different than running without. This time, I'm going to train with Jordan."
When race photographer's take the pair's pictures, Riley said she can see the excitement and happiness on her son's face.
With the pandemic keeping Jordan from many of the activities he used to enjoy, Riley said she's thrilled he will be able to get out again and train with her.
"I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I'm going to finish that race, even if I have to crawl across the finish line," she said.