Important #aim2curejm Update & Thanks

I have struggled to write this post. February 29th, Rare Disease Day, seems like ages ago instead of 23 days past. So many of you have supported us as we raise money for the Cure JM Foundation. I’ll start by sharing the success of this campaign and thank everyone who has been so kind as to donate to Aiming to Cure JM. Special thanks to these most recent donors:

Jeff S., John Scoutten, Michael S., Larry W., Ken S., Justified Defensive Concepts, Dan K., Baxter, William F., Bill & Susan N., Ken W., Lucky Man, Rick B., Armed Citizen Training, Pinot + Pistols, DeMarco Family, RDW, Doc, Tom F., Debbie K., Mark R., Brett K., Fritz Mc., Jim B., Pete G., Meghan L., Joel N., and Rob & Kip.

I am so grateful to the firearms community who have supported the effort. Rob Leatham’s Facebook video not only made laugh, it made me cherish the wonderful friends I have made thanks to shooting even more.

Check out these posts from tacticalphd, justifieddefensiveconcepts, and stiny357. The challenge even went international when Battletested Shooter shared the results of his targets on Instagram. My longtime shooting friend from Israel, Yael Dagan shot and shared the challenge too.

Guntuber superstar, John Correia of Active Self Protection, recorded a video on his bonus channel too…

I had so many plans for #aim2curejm, from shooting the challenge with more of my favorite firearms to the donation I hoped to make from my first match of the season. I’ve been working on a couple of special collaborations too. All of this, like so many things, came to a grinding halt with COVID-19.

I know most of you cannot go to the range and frankly, I just don’t feel right about asking you to contribute at a time like this but…

I am going to ask you for help.

First, please do your best to take care of yourself and your loved ones. I am also humbly asking that you help control the spread of this horrible virus. That means washing hands, not touching your face, social distancing and staying at home if you can. Most who will get the coronavirus will recover but an overwhelming number will not. The inconvenience of everything we’re going through can truly make all the difference for those at high risk, including children with juvenile dermatomyositis and other rare diseases.  

This week we must venture into the city to head to the hospital for our Munchkin’s 23rd infusion. In a way, it feels like we will be taking her into a war zone. It’s necessary so that she can get the medicine she needs, medicine that is already in short supply because people are at home and not donating platelets. Meanwhile, every week we give her an injection of chemotherapy drugs to suppress her hyperactive immune system also making her extremely vulnerable to coronavirus.

I’m not another celebrity, athlete or politician asking you to stay home. I’m a fellow gun owner, shooter, and hunter who can tell you firsthand how important it is. 

Please, stay safe and healthy.