Positively Muskegon: Chase Boucher Needs a Hand

This one is going directly at your heart strings. No if's and's or but's about it. :)

We've been very proud to help further the cause of Muskegon Guns and Hoses over the years, a group of area police and fire fighters who have formed a non profit that usually centers around an annual benefit hockey game where some needs are met and families are taken care of, but this year they have decided that the work can be extended.

Chase and Bella

One of the beneficiaries of the game last year was a little feller named Chase Boucher. Chase has a genetic disorder called Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy. The short and quick of the disease is this. In boys, it stunts growth, and it also attacks muscles. As Chase grows, his muscles won't and right now, he's at the stage where all the common stuff to a 7 year old boy is pretty hard for him to do. Run, play, kid stuff....it's all getting harder. The long term prognosis isn't favorable and hopefully before too long, they'll find a cure. For now though, Chase couldn't have found a better group of people to take him in and be his advocates. He's been crowned a fire fighter and I have found out that there isn't a much tighter wound brotherhood/sisterhood than fire fighters.

Here's where they need a hand. Chase is just seeing the early signs of what this disease will be. He's going to need the help of a service dog and she's already in the "get to know you" phase with Chase. Her name is Bella and she's coming from Lowell. She will not only be a part of Chase's life as things become more difficult for him physically, she's going to be there as emotional support for him as some of the "normals" in life pass him by. This is truly an needed support dog, and truly a little boy who needs a community to surround him.

Bow donated by Matthews

There have been a variety of fundraisers already. There have been spaghetti dinners, Go Fund Me pages. Fire department people gave up some days off to fence in the back yard of Chase's family so Bella can get out when she comes home in October. Of course too, there was the money raised by the Guns and Hoses game last year, but... a little more is needed and they have a chance for you to win a pretty cool prize if you so choose to enter for it. Mathews Archery has donated a Creed Bow valued at $1000 and raffle tickets for it are available for it.

You can even get them online or, if you'd just like to donate, we'll link the PayPal address below.
If you'd like to be entered for the bow just make sure you put raffle tickets and your phone number in the comments of your PayPal form. Simple as that.

I was joined by Lacey Koens and the rock star himself, Chase Boucher to talk a little more about what's all going on here and give you a little more information about the disease and how you can help, take a listen.

As a grandparent, the thought of a scraped knee scares me to death. I can't imagine the thought of a kid like this who's got a progressive disease and how it's going to limit him in his life and the challenges he and his family will face. I do know this though.. He's in the best town on earth to be looked after. Something I have never done on this blog is share a message I got from a guest, but I want you to read something from Lacey and I think it's pretty reflective of the fire fighters she serves with - "For us, Chase is more than charity - he's family our little brother, and we are with him until the wheels fall off" Imagine what kind of world we would have if we all looked out for someone like that.

If you'd like to get in on the raffle for the bow, or make a donation, you'll find the email linked below. Ask around work, take up a collection, cash in the change jar....Muskegon.... I am asking please.... let's do this for this kid and these amazing first responders that have taken him in as one of them.