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The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

The Official Student News Media of Southeastern Louisiana University

The Lion's Roar

    Barker returns to Hot August Night for the second time for a second cause

    Kids selling Lemonade

    This is not the first time Brody Barker (middle) attended Hot August Night with the intent to raise funds for someone other than himself. Last year he attended and raised  over $1,000 for the Tangi Humane Society.  This year, he wanted to help out his new friend, Trevor (right) in getting a new wheelchair.
    The Lion’s Roar / Heather Jewell

    Hot August Night is a time of laughter, fun and sharing Lion Pride in Hammond. One Hammond resident, however, saw it as an opportunity to open hearts and bring awareness to the Hammond community of the struggles one of their youngest members’ faces on a daily basis.

    Five year old Trevor Rickerson suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, a disease which has left him in a wheelchair for most of his life. Rickerson was diagnosed when he was under a year old, leaving him with only 10 percent of muscle usage due to the disease causing his voluntary muscles in his back to begin deteriorating. 

    According to their GoFundMe page, “Trevor’s Cure Dat Foundation,” spinal muscular atrophy is a progressively degenerative disease, which eventually claims the lives of its victims and is the number one genetic killer of children under the age of two. Rickerson will never walk, and his disease will eventually rob him of his ability to swallow, breathe properly and hold his head up. 

    So far, they have raised $8,005 of their $10,000 goal through the page.

    When 11 year old Brody Barker heard his parents discussing Rickerson, he wanted to help. 

    “I heard my mom and dad talking about it, and I wanted to donate money to him,” said Brody Barker.

    This is not the first time Brody has been compelled into action to help others. Just last year he raised $1,100 for the Tangi Humane Society. 

    Brody Barker’s mother, Stacey Barker, says Brody loves spending time at the animal shelter.

    “He likes helping people,” said Stacey Barker.

    The 11 year old decided to play it old school and raise money through a lemonade stand, Brody’s Best of the Best Lemonade because according to Brody Barker, “it is always kinda hot.”

    On the day of the big sale, both boys were in attendance and multiple groups came to show their support by adding their own contributions to the Rickerson’s fund. The Ponchatoula Lions Club donated $250 and Daniel Edwards of the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office presented $500. Community members buying lemonade would often pay for a $2 cup of lemonade with a $20 bill, donating the rest. Some gave money without buying lemonade at all.

    “He’s a really cool kid, and he just needs a new wheelchair,” said Brody Barker. 

    Trevor has been in the same wheelchair for four years and is growing out of it. The specially fitted wheelchair he needs costs $44,000. Trevor also needs items including a shower seat, walker and other forms of equipment for when he gets older. The Rickerson’s also are in need of a new car. Once they obtain the new wheelchair, it will weigh 420 pounds, which is too heavy for the current lift that transfers Trevor into the vehicle. 

    “The best part of all this is the friendship that has come out of it; Brody is such a good person and has been an amazing role model for Trevor,” said Brittany Rickerson, Trevor’s mother.

    Though the boys’ friendship is still young, they enjoy each other’s company while playing video games on Playstation and hanging out.

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