Ainsley's Angels of America is super excited to be spreading awareness and smiles through activism and education!
Please take a moment to enjoy this note from Evan's Dad:
What would a chair mean to us?
To answer this, I have to go back a little bit. If you asked me 6 years ago if I would ever consider pushing a 140 lb kid in a 70 lb stroller for distances from 3 miles to 26.2 miles, I would have laughed in your face. Fast forward to 2014 at the National Night out in Jacksonville, NC. I walked by the Ainsley’s Angels table and was approached by Michelle Smith and Britni Herson. Michelle remembered me from when Ev had attended Thompson Pre-K. Those 2 women somehow conned (I use this in the best way possible) me to signing up and running in the next big race. That race happened to be The Marine Corps Half-Marathon on Camp Lejeune, where I was partnered with Jessica Schneider and Shannon Davis on Team Annelise. Those women liked to kill me (it was my first half with absolutely no preparation), but I saw something that day. I saw Rider Athletes with smiles that brought me to tears. I saw Angels becoming immortal in the eyes of riders, parents, and family members. I saw people with different abilities do something that most of the population would never even consider attempting. That day I fell in love with an idea, a mission if you will. A idea that demands inclusion and education. A mission that forces people to listen. I found a purpose that required me to sacrifice my body and push myself pass limits that I couldn’t even see before that day. I don’t know how many 5ks “Team Category 7 Evan” has completed, but it’s been a lot. A handful of 10ks and 15ks, 7 half Marathons, and 1 full Marathon (The Marine Corps Marathon in 2016). Ev has ran across the line in almost every race we’ve ever ran together.
Why you ask?
Because I may have to help him to reach some of his goals throughout his life, but he will always finish them himself. It’s funny how he always asks me if we won after the race is over. I’m not fast by any means, but we always finish. It may not be pretty or graceful, but we finish. It’s usually downright ugly, but we still finish. I know that no matter how slow and atrocious it, my son will hug me and yell “We won daddy!”. The look on his face after a race is indescribable. My son looks at me like I’m the single greatest person walking this earth. He looks at me as if I can do no wrong. It’s a feeling that I yearn for. The only way to get that feeling is to race again, but faster and further. I’ve never considered myself anything more than average, normal. When Evan pulls me across that line and we “win”, I become something more in his eyes. I am the strongest, fastest, greatest man on earth (in his eyes). I get to be my hero’s hero, even if it’s just for a little bit.
What would a chair mean to us?
It would mean a great many things. We are a part of this huge family now and we’re not going anywhere. This chair would allow us to run at home to better prepare for upcoming races. It will allow us to have a custom yellow and blue paint scheme that celebrates my son’s different-abilities and promotes not only the AAA message, but that of the DS community as well. This chariot will free up an Axiom for another duo on race days.
The last thing it means?
Once we earn our chair, I will quit smoking. I plan to do this (being my son’s angel) until I am no longer physically able to do so. In order to do this, I also need to commit to be there for my son as long as I possibly can. That means giving up something that is slowly killing me every time I light one up.
Please help me and Evan get our own Axiom. Thank y’all for allowing us into your family and welcoming us in with open arms. Donald Toro (Don)
Together, WE Shall ensure this becomes a reality!
Click the button in the upper right of this page or email:
Info@AinsleysAngels.org for a link to make a donation using PayPal and/or for a mailing address should you prefer to donate by check. We will ensure all donations appear on this page as off-line donations and any funds that exceed the goal, will go to aid in execution of the Ainsley's Angels of America mission!
Another way to help, is to spread our message and efforts:
1. Visitwww.AinsleysAngels.org to purchase the children’s book, Born an Angel, written by Ainsley’s then 11-year old sister and donate it to a local elementary school library!
2. Follow us on Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter: @ainsleys_angels
3. Lastly, we invite you to enjoy this amazing videoand subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Additionally, all contributions to are TAX DEDUCTIBLE under section 170 of the IRS Code, as Ainsley’s Angels is qualified to receive tax-deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code. Our tax ID is EIN 45-3576353 and our IRS tax exemption ID (DLN) is 17053067330003.
Of note, all donations through this page will receive a Donation Receipt from Crowdrise for upon donating and all goal overages will aid Ainsley’s Angels in mission execution!
