Story By: Randy Lewis
This is the season of giving and caring about those around us. Over the weekend I meet a young girl named Barbie Brockmeyer from West Chester, Ohio. I met Barbie through her mother, Marie, who was working at Treasure Aisles Flea Market in Monroe, Ohio. She did not have a booth there, nor was she working for the flea market, Marie was up on the stage singing and performing (and doing a great job, in my opinion); but Marie has not been up on stage in a very long time.
When I met Marie she was singing for a purpose, Marie’s daughter Barbie has Cerebral Palsy and needs to have assistance with everyday activities like walking and standing, her main sources of mobility are her scooter and crutches; Barbie wants, and desperately needs, a service dog. According to Barbie making friends can be difficult as people feel uncomfortable dealing with her disability. A service dog would be trained to help and assist Barbie as well as be her best friend. Barbie and her family have been working very hard to raise the money for a dog.
4 Paws for Ability is a non-profit organization in Xenia, Ohio that trains service dogs for the disabled. The Brockmeyer family needs to raise $13,000 to get a service dog, as of today they have managed to raise over half.
If you would like to help Barbie see her dream come true, you can donate to 4 Paws for Ability "In honor of Barbie Brockmeyer" - 253 Dayton Ave. Xenia, Ohio 45385. You can also contact 4 Paws for Ability at (937) 374-0385 or visit their web site at http://www.4pawsforability.org
Click here for Barbie Brockmeyer and MiddletownUSA.com's Randy Lewis On Channel 5 News.