Firefighter Martinez Mobility Van Fund

The Fauquier County IAFF Local 3762 is asking for your assistance to help our sister Gilda Martinez with the purchase of a new or used Mobility van for her son Aiden, who suffers from Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Gilda Martinez is a single mother of 2 and a Firefighter with Fauquier County Fire and Rescue. Her son, Aiden was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and as with any special needs child, requires expensive resources to provide for his needs. Gilda had purchased a wheelchair van to allow her to get him to doctors appointments, family gatherings and meet other transportation requirements. This van is older, has a broken lift system and the hydraulics were no longer operational. Gilda being the self sufficient woman she is, adapted by using the lift in the “emergency” mode and just continued to try and make the van work.

Gilda Martinez is tough lady and is very important to her fire department and to her community. Sadly on November 12, 2023 the van broke down on her and Aiden and left her stranded on the side of I-395 in Fairfax County. Our brothers and sisters from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue came to her aid and were able to get Aiden out of the van and place him in another vehicle. Now, Gilda is left with no way to get her wonderful son to and from his appointments, family events and shopping. She is in a position where she has to lift him (literally pick him up) and place him in a smaller vehicle and place his specialized chair on a rack, outside of the rear of the car. She then has to repeat this process once at their destination. This is dangerous for both Gilda and Aiden and very uncomfortable for both of them.

Let’s get Gilda and Aiden a new van! Gilda serves her community everyday and now we need to help her out. A new, basic personal wheelchair van is $40,000. We would love to raise enough money to replace her old and broken down van with a new one that would provide Aiden and Gilda with the freedom to get to and from necessary appointments, shopping and gatherings without pain and inconvenience. We need your help. Please donate to our cause and help these wonderful people make their lives just a little easier.

All proceeds raised will go directly to Aiden and Gilda’s transportation needs. Thank you so much for giving to a family that serves our community.