The wait is over and Forest Walton, a local teen stricken with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, now has a brand new van. The van was donated by Hendrick Automotive Group and was fitted for handicap accessibility by the Checkers and Van Products, a Raleigh-based company who provides mobility to physically challenged individuals.
The Checkers, in conjunction with Wheels for Forest, surprised Forest and his family with the announcement of a new van during the first intermission of their home game on April 7. Funds were raised from a portion of ticket sales from the Checkers game, a donation from the Charlotte Checkers Charitable Foundation, the Wheels for Forest 5K run in September and donations from friends and fans.
Wheels for Forest, which will soon become a registered 501(c)3 non-profit foundation, was started by two local high school students for their friend Forest and will help to serve the needs of others afflicted with Duchenne MD.
This Community update is brought to you by Goodrich Corporation, who is a proud sponsor of all Checkers community initiatives. Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to the aerospace, defense and homeland security markets. With 2007 revenues of $6.4 billion, Goodrich is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., and employs more than 24,000 people worldwide in approximately 90 facilities across 16 countries.
