Home remodeler Bob Gallagher, who grew up near Clifton, organized a benefit to help Dixie Dawson with repairs to her house including a deck and wheelchair ramp. The repairs are set for Dec. 12. Dawson, who has spina bifida, has lived most of her life in the rambler off Popeshead Road her father built in the early 1960s. Gallagher is a principal at Sun Design Remodeling. Photos contributed
A coalition of local remodelers and home improvement suppliers are set to repair the deck and wheelchair ramp surrounding the home of Dixie Dawson, a long term Clifton resident with spina bifida.
Dawson, who lives alone in the house her father built in the early 1960s, was the beneficiary of the second annual Remodeler's Charity Tour which was held Nov. 7. The tour was sponsored by Sun Design Remodeling with participation from TW Perry, Cedar Electric, MR Contracting and Trex.
The repairs, which will include extensive upgrades to the wheelchair-accessible deck, as well as improvements to the home's electric system and chimney, will occur on Dec. 12. All materials and labor are being donated by participating contractors. The value of the repairs is estimated at $25,000.
To Contribute
Those who wish to make a contribution to the Dawson repair effort may do so at: https://www.youcari…">https://www.youcari…
Dawson credits childhood friend, Janaye Raper Lawson, with initiating the process that led to her receiving the needed assistance. Lawson knew about last year's charity tour (which helped a local widow repair the driveway to her home) and contacted Christina Gallagher, wife of Sun Design principal Bob Gallagher. Two days later, Gallagher dropped by Dawson's home.
“I just thought there must be a way that a community as old and close-knit as ours can aid one of its own,” says Gallagher, who grew up in the area where his father practiced medicine. “My company has learned a lot from doing tours of recently remodeled homes; this seems like a logical way to draw attention to someone in the community we could help.”
The tour, which focused on a Sun Design project in the Balmoral section of Clifton, provided an opportunity for locals to make a contribution to Dawson. It also firmed up the professional support needed to execute the repairs.
John Byrd (byrdmatx@gmail.com or www.HomeFrontsNews.com) has been writing stories about community interest topics for 30 years.