Pearson Arkansas Tornado Victim Fundraiser Sat 9-3

A Fundraiser for a Pearson Arkansas Tornado Victim,  Steven Blake Baldridge, will be on the Cleburne County court square on Saturday, Sept 3rd.  They will  be selling:
 
CARAMEL CORN COBS JR. $2.00 ea
SONIC VALUE CARDS – $5.00 ea 
 RAFFLE TICKETS ON THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
Ingram Archery Archery Target = $ 50 value
Target Stand on Wheels = $ 35 value
GLYNDA TURLEY PRINT = $220.00 value
SYNERGY GAS Free Cylinder Refill = $ 15.00 value
HARPS GROCERY $50 Gift Certificate
Max Allen Furniture $ 50.00 Gift Certificate
Candy Bouquet Candle = $30.00 value
(5) Youngs Tire Gift Certificates =  Balancing, Rotate and Nitro Air Fill $70.00 value
Henry Golden Boy .22 Long Rifle = $515.00 value
Browsing Post Candle = $15.00 value
Tom’s Florist = Giraffe Lamp
Auto Zone 99 piece ratchet/socket set = $49.99 value
Aromatique Fall Basket = $120.00 value
CARAMEL CORN COBS JR.  $2.00 ea
 SONIC VALUE CARDS – $5.00 ea

About Steven Blake Baldridge:

 Steven ‘Blake’ Baldridge, a 25 year old man and lifetime resident ofArkansas, met a series of unfortunate events on March 10, 2010.  It was on this date that a tornado touched down in Pearson, AR, which caused the destruction of not only Blake’s home, but the death of a family member and a life changing, permanent injury.  After being rushed to the hospital unconscious and badly injured, he awoke to discover that he suffered a spinal cord injury rendering him paralyzed from the waist down.  His life as a pipeliner, avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman changed forever at that moment.

His injuries are tragic, but his story is extraordinary.  His extensive injuries have overshadowed his heroism.  Just before the tornado hit, he had gone to his grandparent’s home near-by to check on them as the storm was approaching.  As the tornado suddenly tore through and destroyed his grandparent’s home, he instinctively covered his grandmother, Mrs. Iva Jean Baldridge, with his own body to protect her from the violent debris.  Sadly, his grandfather, Mr. J. Ward Baldridge, suffered critical injuries and died; however, his grandmother lived.  She lived because of his sacrifice.

Since the injury, Blake has struggled to adjust to his new disability.  His life has changed, but one thing remains constant, his heroism and spirit.  Losing his home and everything he owned due to lack of insurance has not stopped Blake from moving forward.  He has worked tirelessly to over-come his disability and to regain as much function as possible.  To this day, he has not wavered from his dream of walking again by overcoming the odds.  As is true for many, he has encountered many barriers in his recovery, which transcend physical limitations.  His resources are limited and he is unable to independently afford the necessary medical equipment that may allow him to progress.

It is with a heavy heart that I appeal to you for assistance to help us fund his journey and hopeful recovery.  To assist with the costs of needed equipment, additional rehabilitation, and other essential needs, a fundraising campaign has been established with the Catastrophic Injury Program of NTAF.  NTAF is a nonprofit organization that has been serving the transplant and catastrophic injury community for over 28 years.  All contributions are tax-deductible and are administered for injury-related expenses only. If you wish to make a contribution;

 Make checks payable to:                              NTAF Southeast Spinal Cord injury Fund

Note in memo section:                                 In honor of Blake Baldridge

Send to:                                                         NTAF

                                                                          150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-120

                                                                           Radnor,PA 19087

 For credit card contributions, call 800-642-8399 or visit www.ntafund.org and enter Blake Baldridge in the “Find a Patient” box on the home page.

 Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by the law. This campaign is administered by the National Transplant Assistance Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing fundraising assistance to transplant and catastrophic injury patients.  Information: 800-642-8399.