Gun violence is a polarizing issue, and this post is in no way trying to incite a political discourse. The goal is to highlight the human element in what has become a brutal reality in the United States. One of our country’s most recent incidents involved a most treasured group – the youth of our country. It seems appropriate to mention that today is June 3rd, National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

I happen to know many responsible gun owners. I do not intend to anger you with this post. In my conversations with many, I would say a majority acknowledge that there is a common ground that something can be done to reduce the number of incidents of gun violence at the hands of irresponsible individuals.

Accordingly, here is an initiative that may be worthwhile to consider: 

A potential bright light is a resolution that protects responsible gun owners and curbs the havoc gun violence creates in our society. Help if you can, support if you can, do something if you can.

Kevin

As we concluded our GoFundMe campaign, my family and I are simply amazed at the generosity and support of so many. To the 222 donors, 288 followers, and 427 shares that generated $36,325, I can simply say thank you for everything.

Many of the names on the donor list are quite familiar to us – and words fail to express our gratitude for your steadfast support.

Teachers, neighbors, colleagues, family, friends….thank you one and all.

So many donated anonymously, and we so wish we could reach out to thank everyone who donated. If you donated anonymously, please know how grateful we are!

It’s not lost on our family that we have been always buoyed by community support, and that others in similar situations don’t get that same kind of support. From the days immediately after my injury until now, just under 10 years ago, so many have championed my cause in various ways. Please continue to do so!

Your help means the world to all of us.

Thank you!

Kevin

We are excited to announce that, just a week after launching our first GoFundMe campaign, we’ve hit our goal of raising $30,000 to pay for one year of Kevin’s care not covered by insurance. We are immensely grateful and overwhelmed by the response.

We wish that words could adequately thank all of you for the support you have shown Kevin this past week and through the last ten years. We hope to be able to see all of you soon.

To see the fundraising campaign and a list of donors, click here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-kevin-nearys-care

Over the years, Kevin and our family have cherished seeing everyone at the great fundraising events held by Kevin’s supporters. Unfortunately, with the pandemic, we have not been able to see each other at these events, which is something we truly miss. We hope to be able to see everyone when it is safer to hold large events again.

Of course, while the events have stopped, the costs for Kevin’s care have not. We are launching a GoFundMe campaign with an ambitious goal — paying for a year of Kevin’s care not covered by insurance, which typically costs more than $30,000.

We also hope to shine a light on the importance of caregivers to individuals living with disabilities. As a quadriplegic, Kevin relies on nurses and aides to take care of basic needs, like getting in and out of bed, bathing and dressing, and helping meet his medical needs.

By contributing, you can play a huge part – not only for Kevin, but also for Kevin’s dad, Joe, and the rest of the Neary family. Joe is Kevin’s primary caregiver. While Joe has a lot of energy, every caregiver needs support and rest.

Contributions also help cover Kevin’s non-medical costs that help him live more independently, including transportation, supplies, and other needs.

Please help us spread the word by sharing with your friends, family, and others who you think might want to support Kevin.

Click here to contribute.

Note: Funds raised are NOT tax-deductible. Funds will go to Kevin’s Special Needs Trust.

Happy summer to all and I hope this message finds everyone in good spirits.

One of my goals starting this summer is to update the website more often detailing some of what has been going on in my world. Hopefully it will provide some insight into my life that will prove valuable for those who are interested in knowing how things are with me. Also, I encourage everyone to comment and reach out with your feedback.

Many of you have asked about whether or not we have any upcoming events. We are targeting an event in the early spring. Please stay tuned for details and if anyone has any recommendations, please feel free to send me a note. I can always be reached by email at nearyk@gmail.com.

Related to visitors, I am still open to receiving company. I am grateful to all that feel comfortable enough to spend some of their time with me and I also understand if there are concerns about the current situation of healthcare in our modern society.

In closing, thank you all for showing an interest in my health and well-being. I am incredibly blessed to have so many people that care. It is certainly appreciated and something which I am fortunate to have. Best wishes to all and I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer.

To my friends and family,

First of all, thank you so much for your support during the last year and a half as we all faced challenges staying in touch and remaining healthy combating COVID. My heart goes out to everyone who lost a close one or struggled fighting the virus themselves.

Many of you have asked about my health considering my at risk status as someone with a compromised respiratory system. Fortunately, I am able to say that I remain healthy. I thank my caregivers for masking procedures and social distancing when necessary for helping reduce my risk of infection. I have also received the vaccine without experiencing any complications or side effects. As with any of you, I was forced to curtail many of the activities that I had become accustomed to doing. However, now that things have started to open up, and more opportunities present themselves to do more activities, I realize that we are not completely out of the woods from fighting the pandemic.

Although it has been a challenging year, it has also been eventful. My brother Chris and his wife Lindsey welcomed my nephew, Logan, into the world in January. I have been able to meet him and see my nephews Joseph and William, as well as my brother JP and my sister-in-law Olivia. It has been a pleasure to see these three Neary boys grow. We have been able to stay in touch thanks to video chat.

So far this summer, I have had the opportunity to attend some Phillies games and enjoy dining at local restaurants. I welcome the chance to do more of these and other outings while the warm weather is here. Whether it be a local park or the deck at my house, maybe we can grab a sandwich and meet outdoors or utilize the grill here at the house.

I am hoping to see as many of you as I can over these coming months. Feel free to give me a call or shoot me a text message to set up a time to hang out.

Kevin

Hello to all and happy new year!

Most of you are aware of our upcoming event, axe throwing, scheduled for this upcoming Saturday, January 11. There is good news – there are still team and individual openings in the event you are looking to participate! A special thank you goes to Daniel Dvorak for all he has done to organize, promote, and execute the event.

As mentioned, there is still an opportunity for you to participate in multiple ways. You can sign up, sponsor, or feel free to donate a door prize. For those of you who utilize social media, please consider sharing the event with your friends and family.

Also, for those who have already registered, this is a reminder that you need to sign the waiver in order to participate. Please let me know if you need additional information.

Thanks again for your interest in our upcoming event and the various ways you continue to assist me. Everything is greatly appreciated.

Please note that you need to be registered to participate in the event.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-throw-some-fokn-hatchets-registration-75789609763

Tickets are on sale for the FOKN Hatchet Throwing Event!

Click here to get tickets and sign up your team!

Also, mark your calendars for next year’s FOKN golf outing! The tournament will be on Sept 14th, 2020.

Lots of great ways to support Kevin coming up! We hope to see you there!