I am a Hoosier coming out from behind enemy lines, waving a white flag in hopes of a temporary truce, to seek the help of Boiler nation for a dear family friend of ours who is in need.
I spent my high school years in West Lafayette, and our family became very close with Gerald Thomas and his family. Gerald played at Purdue from 1974-1977. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/gerald-thomas-2.html
Gerald, his wife Susan, and their kids Ben and Christopher are some of the nicest people you could ever want to meet.
In 2008, Gerald was diagnosed with MS. Sadly, his physical condition and capabilities have deteriorated since then. I saw him about a year ago, and his spirits were high despite his increasing difficultly walking. That capacity now fully eludes him now, as he is bound to his wheelchair. He and his family recently set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise the funds needed for a wheelchair accessible van. He wrote, "I would love to become more independently mobile and a wheelchair accessible van would accomplish this goal."
Here is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dundzn-n...ible-van?qid=7b14f5b395a2152738ea714eec6c7d4a
I'm posting this here in hopes that Boiler Nation can help a former Boiler out. It sometimes seems so silly that we all care about these games played by college kids so much ... and yet it's in situations like these, when former players or members of the family need help, that the deep community and camaraderie of a fan base truly shines through -- sometimes even among opposing fan bases!
Anyway, I know we have our differences and enjoy ribbing each other about the games and chants and banners, but this is the stuff that really matters. Gerald and his family are wonderful folks, so I'm just hoping to help him get them some support.
Please consider contributing. Any amount helps.
I spent my high school years in West Lafayette, and our family became very close with Gerald Thomas and his family. Gerald played at Purdue from 1974-1977. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/gerald-thomas-2.html
Gerald, his wife Susan, and their kids Ben and Christopher are some of the nicest people you could ever want to meet.
In 2008, Gerald was diagnosed with MS. Sadly, his physical condition and capabilities have deteriorated since then. I saw him about a year ago, and his spirits were high despite his increasing difficultly walking. That capacity now fully eludes him now, as he is bound to his wheelchair. He and his family recently set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise the funds needed for a wheelchair accessible van. He wrote, "I would love to become more independently mobile and a wheelchair accessible van would accomplish this goal."
Here is the link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dundzn-n...ible-van?qid=7b14f5b395a2152738ea714eec6c7d4a
I'm posting this here in hopes that Boiler Nation can help a former Boiler out. It sometimes seems so silly that we all care about these games played by college kids so much ... and yet it's in situations like these, when former players or members of the family need help, that the deep community and camaraderie of a fan base truly shines through -- sometimes even among opposing fan bases!
Anyway, I know we have our differences and enjoy ribbing each other about the games and chants and banners, but this is the stuff that really matters. Gerald and his family are wonderful folks, so I'm just hoping to help him get them some support.
Please consider contributing. Any amount helps.