"Awesome Lawson" Lawson's Van Campaign

In the In the picture above you will see a 17-year-old young man named Lawson Sizemore. Lawson uses a 400 pound motorized chair for mobility, but has never been defined by it. His chair might be the first thing you notice but it is far from the first thing you will remember about him. Lawson was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Type II A at a young age. Because of this diagnosis, Lawson has been faced with physical challenges throughout his life. These challenges have never stopped him from achieving any goal he sets for himself or conquering any obstacle that stands in front of him and he vows this circumstance will be no different!

Lawson has done nothing but exemplifies what an extraordinary young man he truly is despite the adversity he has faced. Through the completion of his junior year at Joliet West, he has already amassed 650 community service hours even though the graduation requirement is only 40. He has coached basketball for the Special Olympics, Troy Middle School, and has been a student manager for the football, basketball, and baseball teams each season since his arrival on campus.  Also, he is the lead sportswriter and editor for the school newspaper while earning all 19 of his credits and maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. Upon graduation this spring, he plans to attend the University of Kentucky where he will major in mass communications with a focus in sports broadcasting and sports media journalism while being a manager for The Big Blue nation on head coach John Calipari’s men’s Wildcat basketball team. Until then, he will continue to support his Joliet West Tigers and the youthfully talented Chicago White Sox.

For Lawson, 2020 has been a year of uncertainty and misfortune for many reasons beyond the pandemic and remote learning. His junior year basketball season at Joliet West was cut short the night before the sectional championship after his team already captured an undefeated conference championship season, a regional championship, and the most wins in school history. Shortly after the season ended, Lawson had spinal correction surgery to realign and fuse the curved vertebrae of his spine, which allowed him to sit more comfortably in his chair. Although he was able to focus on the positive outcomes of his procedure (which made him 3 inches taller) he is now unfortunately too tall to fit in his conversion van.

The fundraising efforts are in response to his need for a more reliable means of transportation. The type of vehicle required to transport Lawson and his chair must have a strong enough hydraulic lift that consistently functions and handles the lifting, lowering, and tow load of his 400lb chair. The family’s current van is a 2001 and is on its last wheel. The hydraulic unit often malfunctions, and the suspension is beginning to fail. Lawson hopes this will be his last hurdle before the new year arrives. As always, he is prepared to fight, but this situation calls for a collaborative effort and Lawson always welcomes the team experience! With everyone’s help, WE can come together to afford Lawson the van he deserves.
 

Please consider donating to get this high character young man. You can contribute any amount you deem feasible via the options below:

1. Checks can be made out to ‘Lawson Sizemore’ addressed to Jeff Peterson at 1624 Barthelone St., Crest Hill, IL 60435.

2. Go Fund Me
 
3. Facebook fundraiser: Lawson's Van Campaign

My name is Jeff Peterson and I am from Joliet, Illinois. Lawson is my student at Joliet West High School. Lawson and I are on a shared bank account and one of us will be with drawing the funds to purchase his van. Thank you for your donations!