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Finn’s Friends is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to providing family assistance to those affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
"We are a nonprofit organization committed to supporting families affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) who are struggling with the substantial expenses associated with caring for their loved ones. Despite being a small organization, we are resolute in our dedication to advocating for Finn and all his friends facing the challenges of this disease. Our mission is to provide unwavering support to these families in their journey against DMD."
What is Duchenne?
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare and severe genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness.
The average diagnosis for a child with Duchenne is four years old.
The average lifespan of an individual with Duchenne is 30 years.
Duchenne is caused by a change to the dystrophin gene on the X chromosome. Dystrophin helps with the repair and function of the muscles.
Get involved
Finn's Friends organizes two major fundraisers annually, and our dedicated volunteers serve as the backbone to guarantee the success of these events. If you're interested in joining us as a volunteer, we warmly welcome you! Whether you have a particular skill to contribute, time to spare, or resources to support our families, we'd love to connect with you. Explore our volunteer opportunities and upcoming events below!
Family Assistance
In 2023, we established our Family Assistance Program to support families impacted by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. To date, we have disbursed over $150,000 to families facing financial challenges while caring for their loved ones nationwide. Our assistance covers a range of needs, including wheelchair ramps, accessible vans, home modifications, service dogs, power wheelchairs, and aid with living expenses. We are dedicated to providing transformative support to families directly affected by the significant financial burdens associated with caring for a loved one with DMD.
If you are a family living with Duchenne and need help, please fill out the application form below. We aspire to play a small but meaningful role in your family's journey.
Families we've helped
Stephen Carr
Meet the Carr Family! The Carr family had been raising money for the past few years to afford a wheelchair accessible van for their son Stephen. We had the pleasure of donating the remaining balance they needed to secure this life changing van.
Casey, Stephen's dad, said: “Bless you Dear Lady for all your help and all you do. We got our van yesterday.”
Ethan Higginbotham
Meet Ethan Higginbotham. He is a junior at Wichita State University. He is currently living independently in an apartment, studying Physics and Astronomy. Finn's Friends was honored to partner with KSU PI Kappa Alpha to assist Ethan in getting a service dog. Einstein is now living with Ethan full-time and assists Ethan daily with tasks around his home and campus.
Brock and Graham Andrews
Meet the Andrews Family! They have 2 sons, Brock and Graham, who both have DMD. Brock is in a wheelchair full-time which makes getting around his own home a challenge. Chris Andrews (Dad) contacted us with their need for a bathroom modification to include a wheelchair accessible shower and a ceiling hoist to make showering for Brock safer and easier!
We were so happy to be able to provide financial assistance to help the Andrews family, Brock specifically, regain a sense of confidence and mobility when showering!
Victor Martinez
Meet Victor Martinez! Victor desperately needed easier access to his bathroom. Finn's friend was able to widen the doorway so that his electric wheelchair could easily fit and make it easier and safer for his mother to assist him. We had the privilege of covering the cost of this modification!
Victor also needed a wheelchair-accessible van. From an early age, Victor used public bus transportation to and from school, making the days longer and adding stress for his mother. At our 2023 Golf Tournament, because of our generous supporters, we raised enough money to cover the remaining cost to secure Victor's van!
Legacii Johnson
Meet Legacii Johnson and his mom Lorraine Rutledge!
In February 2024, a mutual contact at a pharmacy company connected us with Lorraine and her son Legacii. After meeting their family, who happened to live in the same town as our organization, and discussing their needs, we were able to convince Lorraine to let Finn's Friends provide family assistance.
We have been blessed to provide rent assistance and a bathroom modification for Legacii, who is 11 years old and wheelchair-bound. This support was critical in helping them create a more accessible and comfortable living environment.
Beyond financial aid, we also offered relational support. Being a mom is a tough job, but being a mom of a child with Muscular Dystrophy is even more challenging. Lorraine, as a single mom, works tirelessly every day to provide for her son. By offering financial relief, we were able to ease some of her burdens, allowing her to focus more on her family.