By Shelby Stewart
Staff Writer
A local church is reaching out to help a local keep on—moving on.
From noon- 5 p.m., Sept. 30, the Lakeview Community Church, 10023 South State Road, Goodrich will be hosting the Keep Kristen Moving fundraiser.
Kristen Milefchik, who was born with a form of muscular dystrophy, has been a lifetime wheelchair user, and she is in need of a new accessible van.
“I depend on a power wheelchair because my muscles are too weak to use a regular wheelchair,” said Kristen. “However, power wheelchairs don’t break down and can’t go in a normal car.”
The type of van Milefchik needs would need to have a lift or a ramp. She remains active by teaching public education and training on disability rights, as well as volunteering with advocacy groups and serving on the United Cerebral Palsy Board of Detroit. She was also Miss Wheelchair Michigan in 2015 and just finished her masters degree.
“Without a vehicle that has a lift or ramp, I am not able to get around easily enough,” said Milefchik. “And the reason I’m no able to afford one is because the accessible vehicles cost two to three times more as a regular vehicle.”
Milefchik also says that she is not able to get it covered because a transportation for her is considered a luxury, not a necessity.
The fundraiser will have live music, a silent auction, food trucks, kids games and prizes, inflatables for kids and a van smash of Milefchik’s older, unusable van. Donations can also be made at gofundme.com/help-keep-me-moving