Fundraiser aims to put wheelchair bound Wareham brothers in driver’s seat
As kids, CJ and Sidney Singletary wouldn’t let muscular dystrophy slow them down.
The brothers played sports – baseball, basketball and soccer – until the progressive, muscle-weakening disease confined them both to wheelchairs about six years ago.
While the disease hasn’t diminished their drive, CJ, 29, and Sidney, 27, are having a hard time getting where they want to go. Now, both are hopeful a GoFundMe launched last week will raise enough money to buy a vehicle with a handicap accessible attachment. GoFundMe is an online tool to raise funds. That would allow them to stop relying on friends and family for transportation, finish school and join the workforce.
“I love my community because of how connected everyone is and how thoughtful the people are…Our whole premise is education and job opportunities,” said Sidney. “This would be a source of independence.”
Sidney, who graduates from Massasoit Community College this spring, studies graphic design. He’s already missed out on one potential job opportunity after graduation. The position required reliable transportation and family just wouldn’t have been able to accommodate him.
CJ graduated with a liberal arts degree from the same school in 2016, but wants to return and get a degree related to music production.
Those fields allow the brothers to rely on their minds, said Sidney.
“I turned to graphic design because there’s nothing really physical about it,” he said.
Both were first diagnosed 20 years ago, Sidney with Becker muscular dystrophy and CJ with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. CJ said doctors were surprised by two things: that both had the disease and that it was two different types.
“We break the rules I guess,” said CJ. “We’ve done well given our situation.”
As children, they weren’t treated much differently than their peers, playing sports and expecting to compete like everyone else. When the disease progressed they had to make adjustments, but the mindset remained.
“We’re determined,” said Sidney. “We want to get stuff done.”
“Some people are just built that way,” said CJ.
Both live with their mother and grandmother in West Wareham. To get around, they rely on friends and family, but coordinating schedules is often difficult. A vehicle would give Sidney and CJ more control over their future, they said.
They hope to raise $65,000. Approximately $45,000 to $50,000 would be for the vehicle and the remainder would pay for the handicap attachement, allowing them to accommodate their wheelchairs. As of Sunday, the drive has raised $1,445.
To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/sidcj.