Jimbo Blackmon's ALS Fight

Jimbo Blackmon’s ALS Fight

Friends and family are establishing this campaign for Jimmy Blackmon, Jr. (Jimbo), who was diagnosed with ALS on August 17, 2017, at the age of 45. Jimbo is a native of Fayetteville, NC. He is a 1991 graduate of Douglas Byrd High School where he enjoyed playing football under Coach Bob Paroli.

Jimbo and his family are not the kind of people who are comfortable asking for support. So, it is our desire, as friends, family and donors like you, to show solidarity and support for Jimbo. The donations received from this campaign will help Jimbo and his family offset the mounting costs of living with ALS. We are so very grateful for any and all donations and for any sharing of this campaign on social media. We must reach and even exceed our goal quickly because with ALS, every minute — every moment counts.

Please take the time to read and share Jimbo’s story below. Once again, donate if you can and share if you will, with as many people as possible. If you are unable to donate, please share Jimbo’s story and consider adding Jimbo and his family to your prayer list.

Jimbo’s Story

Jimbo’s journey began when he started to have difficulty with his left hand. The area between his thumb and his index finger began to weaken and his thumb began to contract. He also began having difficulty with his speech, slurring his words. The family hoped his problems were due to a pinched nerve. Sadly, after many doctors’ visits and many tests, this proved not to be the case. In August of 2017, Jimbo was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) also known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”. ALS is a progressive nervous system (neurological) disease that destroys nerve cells and causes disability. Currently, there is no cure or effective treatment for ALS, and it ultimately leads to complete paralysis. The average life span after diagnosis is two to five years. Every individual diagnosed with ALS has a different experience meaning there are many unknowns ahead for Jimbo and his family.

Shortly after his diagnosis, Jimbo began to deteriorate rather quickly and dramatically. ALS is robbing him of his muscle strength and speech. Jimbo had to medically retire from the Goodyear Tire Company in January 2018. He had always been a proud provider for his family and having to leave his job was a devastating blow for him. He enjoyed his job and his friends at Goodyear, and he misses both greatly.

Jimbo is a loving husband to Angie, his wife of 18 years; and, he is a devoted father to his 16-year-old daughter, Taylor. He is cherished by his parents, Jimmie and Cheryl, and his brother, Jeffrey. Jimbo is very close to his family. He was the one that the family depended on to take care of things around the house. Jimbo was very handy. He was the master of the “Honey-Do” list. He could build, install, rewire and fix anything. Performing these tasks made Jimbo feel needed. Sadly, ALS has taken this away from him.

Navigating the Unknown - Where We Need Your Help

We are kindly asking for your help. The proceeds of this campaign will go towards the purchase of a wheelchair accessible van, a computer with a communicating device, bathroom renovations, a handicap ramp, and other devices and services that insurance will not cover. This will allow Jimbo to have a better quality of life.

Please help us reach and exceed our goal by sharing this fundraising campaign on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, by email or text and by any other means possible. Please share this with your friends, family, colleagues, and contacts, and ask them to share it as well. Even if you can’t donate anything at this time, you can help us get the word out and you can pray for Jimbo and his family.

On behalf of Jimbo, his family and his friends, we sincerely thank you.

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