Two San Luis Obispo boys are making a difference. Their project called Helmets 4 Helmets has been in the works for weeks. On Tuesday, their hard work came to a conclusion. The project will help more than 2,000 kids who are struggling with severe medical conditions.
For months, 6-year-old Bryson Thompson has been living with severe epileptic episodes. He received a protective helmet funded by a local nonprofit. It makes him look like a football player, his passion, and keeps him safe.
Now, the Thompson family is taking the time and energy to pay it forward in a big way.
"Today we are going to deliver all of these items to Jack’s Helping Hand," said Sarah Thompson, the boys’ mother.
More than 60 athletes sent gear to brothers, Bryson and Brock, the boys behind Helmets 4 Helmets.
"Matt Ryan, Peyton Manning, James Harden," Brock said. "The Falcons, the Raiders, the Eagles."
They will be auctioned off online and in a silent auction. The money will go to Jack’s Helping Hand to help kids with cancer and special needs.
"Helmets, footballs, jerseys, even some of their trading cards signed," Brock said. "It will help get kids helmets or gas money if they have to go to the hospital."
On Tuesday, the Thompson family packed up the car, box after box of priceless signed and game-worn gear. Then, they hand-delivered them to Jack’s Helping Hand with love.
"The Helmets 4 Helmets project will specifically go to help children with medical co-pays," said Bridget Ready, Jack’s Helping Hand Co-Founder. "Gas, food, lodging, specialized equipment, quality of life programs that will not only help them but their family."
But it doesn’t stop there. The boys are taking the project nationwide.
"They want to continue it on," Thompson said. "They’ve had ideas of maybe holding a football camp for kids who can’t normally go and having some of these athletes come out and coach it."
The boys got a lot of help with donation items from really big name celebrities and athletes, even Kobe Bryant donated a few items.
The Jack’s Helping Hand silent auction is this Saturday. It’s sold out. They say the best way for people to help at this point is to go to the auction website or JacksHelpingHand.org to make a donation.
The online auction goes live on Sunday at www.helmets4helmets.com. They will post all items collected but only five will be live at a time for two weeks.
