Give6 Making a Difference GTN News

Give 6 Making a Difference

One local family is turning their tragedy into a good cause - and it's all through a nonprofit initiative they call Give 6. 

In our big story tonight - GTN's Briana Harper tells us how they hope to give back and how they're raising awareness. 

Today the Fletcher family officially kick-starts its cause to give back. But this fundraising drive is different from most.  

It's centered on collecting video games and informing people of the rare disease spinal muscular atrophy. 

Children's Home Society Director Jennifer Anchors says, "This is an opportunity for us to spread more awareness to what children need in our community and how we all can help whether we're donating a video game, volunteering, donating cash-- we can all do something to help children in need."

Give 6 is named in honor of the Fletcher's son Joshua Joel who lived with SMA but passed away months before his 6th birthday. 

Now-- in honor of his memory the goal is simply advocacy. 

Joshua's mother Patrice Fletcher says"There is more technology that can help kids with spinal muscular atrophy but there's not that awareness out there. There's so much research going on out there but we don't have one in this area."

 O2BKids, Children's Home Society and the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce are all partners in the Give 6 initiative. 

And in each of these fields quality of live in some way remains a priority. 

Joshua's father Ian Fletcher says, "It's about all aspects of life and so when we do economic development for our community we talk about the quality of life we talk about the culture, we talk about our schools."

And now talks of SMA awareness and giving back can also benefit the community's quality of life as well. 

Give 6 is collecting new and used video games from now until the beginning of December just in time for holiday season gift giving.