Smithtown, NY - May 30th, 2014 - Imagine not being able to breathe as you are transported in and out of your vehicle to attend medical appointments. Or, to be the parent who has to facilitate moving their 7 year old into and out of a van that is not equipped to handle the 100+ pounds of life sustaining equipment into and out of the vehicle. This is the motivation behind Long Islanders Helping Long Islanders, led by organizers Frank Lombardo, his sister Angela Lombardo and Mark Klein.  Their efforts to raise funds have created “Get Emma A Lift,” a commitment to changing the life of 7-year-old Emma Nelson and her family.

Emma is the only female of the 200 reported cases of the rare blood disease, ATR-X (Alpha Thalassemia Mental Retardation X Linked) and must be disconnected from her life sustaining medical equipment, leaving her with out oxygen during the process of getting in and out of the family vehicle. This benefit serves to raise the monies to purchase the family a van, which will be customized with a lift, gate and safety features to get her in and out of the vehicle safely and as smoothly as possible.

This mission is motivating and creating a community to create their own fundraisers who post on the event page, donate to the Go Fund Me account, which surpassed $10,000 and attend the special event on June 22 at 89 North Music Venue in Patchogue from 2-6pm with local music superstars performing. Tickets are $20.00 at the door and there will be one of a kind raffles ranging from signed Twisted Sister memorabilia to local services and fine wines.

This is an opportunity to change lives. Your efforts can help raise the complete amount needed to “Get Emma A Lift” and to allow her family to never have to see the look of fear in her face again as her life preserving tubes are disconnected to move her into the van.

Please take a look at what others are doing, and let us know what you are up to and join the band on June 22nd!

About Give Emma a Lift
Long Islanders Helping Long Islanders Creates A Loving Community Through Grass Roots Fundraising Efforts To Buy Emma Nelson A Medically Customized Van, Allowing Her To Remain Attached To Her Life Sustaining Equipment, Relieving The Fear of Fighting Fate With Each Trip. An All Star Concert Event On June 22 at 89 North Features LI's Randy Jackson of Zebra, George Cintron & The Clapton Chronicles and Stanton Anderson Band.

Visit Long Islanders Helping Long Islanders on Facebook for more information.