On Friday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m., South Forsyth High School’s DECA Club will host a “SoFo Paint Night” for students and families to get creative and fundraise for a meaningful cause. All the proceeds from the event will go toward the “Rolling Dream” Fundraiser to help South student Christian Valcheff purchase a wheelchair-accessible van.
Valcheff is an 18-year-old special education student known by many in the community for his positive attitude and sense of humor despite having been born with Cerebral Palsy, a condition which causes him to rely on a wheelchair for all his mobility needs.
To navigate the world as every teen wants to, Valcheff relies on family members at home and aides at school to assist him with physically challenging activities, one of which many South students probably take for granted everyday: getting in and out of a car.
Unfortunately last June, Valcheff’s father received a cancer diagnosis. Because his father can no longer fully assist with Valcheff’s physical needs, the family needs a wheelchair accessible van.
“The van will help me by having a ramp come all the way out of the car,” Valcheff said.
Such a van can be incredibly expensive, in some places costing upwards of $100K, so the family would benefit greatly from any assistance with the purchase that will undoubtedly improve the entire family’s quality of life.
“[The van’s ramp] will help my mom…because it’s quicker,” Valcheff said.
Aside from traveling to and from school, Valcheff, who wants to be a professional DJ, says he enjoys going to local parks.
All the money collected from the Paint Night ticket sales will go directly to this cause. Tickets cost $25 for one student to participate in the painting activity and $40 for a parent and student combined.
Tickets can be purchased on SchoolPay through the end of November. Outside of the Paint Night Fundraiser, interested parties can also donate directly to the family’s GoFundMe, which, as of Nov. 30, has raised $16,910 of its $60,000 goal.
Paint Night will be a fun event where families can spend time together and students can have fun by working on these creative projects.
In addition to having the opportunity to donate to this important initiative by attending, students are also encouraged to participate because they can receive volunteer hours for honors societies such as NTHS and National Beta Club.
To see clubs, staff and students working across the community to support him and his family, Valcheff says he “feel[s] pretty good about it.”
