Born with a rare genetic disorder, 17-year-old Jordan Corkum of Lunenburg and his family need to purchase a wheelchair accessible van.
Fundraising efforts have already begun, with a concert to take place 1-5 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Astor Theatre in Liverpool called, “Jammin’ for Jordan.”
“This multi band concert is being held to raise much needed funds to reach our goal,” says volunteer Vicki Surette. “Transportation currently consists of various vehicles belonging to friends and family. Now that he is nearing adulthood, getting him in and out of these vehicles is becoming next to impossible for Jordan’s sole caregiver, his mother Mary Ann.”
Corkum’s genetic disorder has caused a duplication of the MECP two region of the X chromosome as well as Gastroenterology Disorder.
His mother works as a bus monitor on the bus Jordan takes to high school and has a very limited income, notes Surette.
If Jordan has to go somewhere, his mother has to lift him in and out of a car, which is hard on both of them.
“There’s very few documented cases of this,” says Mary Ann Corkum. “It’s definitely going to mean freedom for Jordan; our summers and weekends consist of being stuck home really.”
Surette says, “We are looking for community involvement to make this dream a reality. I recently had my head shaved and raised $1,300 for this very worthy cause.”
She estimates the van to cost $50,000.
Corkum can’t wait to take Jordan to see the monkeys at Oaklawn Farm Zoo.
So far fundraising efforts have raised $35,000, she adds.
The benefit concert at the Astor Theatre includes musicians, Connie Saulnier, William Laurence of Bill Kidney and Complete Control, Universal SubSonic Sound, Emotional Junkies, Latitude, and Bleek.
“I think that it’s amazing how people have helped and like Vicki, she’s not even from our community and she’s gotten on board,” says Corkum. “It’s very overwhelming the amount of people who have wanted to help and it’s hard as a family and a mom to accept help from people.”
A facebook group called “Jammin for Jordan,” can be found at
www.facebook.com