A Lego resale shop in Pennsylvania hosted a fundraiser that exceeded expectations for Jamie Reynolds, a 14-year-old boy living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who recently lost the ability to walk and now needs a wheelchair-accessible van. Brick Heads co-owner Ron Daggett organized the holiday fundraiser, intending to raise a couple of thousand dollars, but donors far exceeded that goal.”It’s just amazing to see his smile every day. And it’s just the smile that warms your heart,” said Jonathan Clark, Jamie’s dad.The shop placed special Lego sets with a yellow-highlighted tag in a glass case and directed all proceeds from those purchases to Jamie.”When you learn of someone’s condition like that, it helps you to appreciate your own life in your own time,” said Ron Daggett, co-owner of Brick Heads. Jamie became a regular at the store after his first visit seven years ago. The 14-year-old became an integral part of the store by building Lego mini-figures and sets while helping like a regular employee.”For the time getting to know him, oh, he made life better. And I wanted to make sure his life was better,” Clark said. “Initially, I had spoke with Jamie’s father. I told him I was hoping to raise a couple thousand dollars myself,” Daggett said. Organizers had estimated roughly $8,000 would cover the van, and expected to raise around $2,000.”We did that over 10 times over,” Daggett said. The campaign culminated in a check worth $36,855 for Jamie.”I don’t know. Feel like it’s an insane number,” Jamie said. “I wasn’t expecting that number. I was expecting maybe $3,000, but kind of blew it away.”The extra funds will help cover health care costs, any incurred costs for the wheelchair-accessible van, and grant a special wish.”Some of it will be used to take a special trip that Jamie’s had his eye on. He’d like to see Mount Rushmore,” Clark said. “It means everything. I didn’t think I’d ever go,” Jamie said. Daggett gave much more to Jamie than the fundraiser check, remodeling his bedroom and bathroom to make it wheelchair accessible.”He would probably say he’s never given as much as what Jamie’s given him, but he’s done a lot,” said Don Clark, Jamie’s grandfather.”I don’t really like to take a lot of credit for that kind of stuff at all. I wish the world was more like that all the time,” Daggett said. However, Jamie is still working on Lego sets, building nearly 200 in his life so far.”Thank you to everyone who gave,” Clark said. “This is what would make the world a better place.””I wanted to say thank you. I was just so shocked at how much people donated,” Jamie said.
A Lego resale shop in Pennsylvania hosted a fundraiser that exceeded expectations for Jamie Reynolds, a 14-year-old boy living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who recently lost the ability to walk and now needs a wheelchair-accessible van.
Brick Heads co-owner Ron Daggett organized the holiday fundraiser, intending to raise a couple of thousand dollars, but donors far exceeded that goal.
“It’s just amazing to see his smile every day. And it’s just the smile that warms your heart,” said Jonathan Clark, Jamie’s dad.
The shop placed special Lego sets with a yellow-highlighted tag in a glass case and directed all proceeds from those purchases to Jamie.
“When you learn of someone’s condition like that, it helps you to appreciate your own life in your own time,” said Ron Daggett, co-owner of Brick Heads.
Jamie became a regular at the store after his first visit seven years ago. The 14-year-old became an integral part of the store by building Lego mini-figures and sets while helping like a regular employee.
“For the time getting to know him, oh, he made life better. And I wanted to make sure his life was better,” Clark said.
“Initially, I had spoke with Jamie’s father. I told him I was hoping to raise a couple thousand dollars myself,” Daggett said.
Organizers had estimated roughly $8,000 would cover the van, and expected to raise around $2,000.
“We did that over 10 times over,” Daggett said.
The campaign culminated in a check worth $36,855 for Jamie.
“I don’t know. Feel like it’s an insane number,” Jamie said. “I wasn’t expecting that number. I was expecting maybe $3,000, but kind of blew it away.”
The extra funds will help cover health care costs, any incurred costs for the wheelchair-accessible van, and grant a special wish.
“Some of it will be used to take a special trip that Jamie’s had his eye on. He’d like to see Mount Rushmore,” Clark said.
“It means everything. I didn’t think I’d ever go,” Jamie said.
Daggett gave much more to Jamie than the fundraiser check, remodeling his bedroom and bathroom to make it wheelchair accessible.
“He would probably say he’s never given as much as what Jamie’s given him, but he’s done a lot,” said Don Clark, Jamie’s grandfather.
“I don’t really like to take a lot of credit for that kind of stuff at all. I wish the world was more like that all the time,” Daggett said.
However, Jamie is still working on Lego sets, building nearly 200 in his life so far.
“Thank you to everyone who gave,” Clark said. “This is what would make the world a better place.”
“I wanted to say thank you. I was just so shocked at how much people donated,” Jamie said.
