LONGMONT, Colo. — Since 2011, Johnny Lee McCray, a veteran, has been on dialysis because of kidney failure. When transportation to get this treatment became a major concern for him, he sought help from a nonprofit that specializes in helping veterans in those situations.
McCray served our country in war and now he says it can be a struggle to get the care he needs.
"I got to keep on pushing forward, trying not to think about all the things because if I want to live, I have to do what I have to do and in this case, this is something that has to be done," he said.
McCray said he had no way to make the long trip to his appointments until he started getting rides from a nonprofit called Cultivate a few months ago. The nonprofit just received $120,000 in funds from the NextFifty Initiative, a private foundation out of Denver dedicated to funding the lives of older adults.
"Some people just don’t have the means of getting there and I think it’s very important for people to get there," he said.
Wayne Hobben also served in the military and now serves as a volunteer driver for Cultivate.
"A lot of them just have a great deal of difficulty getting to their appointments and if they don’t get there, they’re not going to have much of a life," he said.
After giving so much for their country, McCray and Hobben both have peace of mind knowing they are not forgotten.
Executive Director Chrysti Britt said more funds, they plan to expand the services they provide.
"The NextFifty Initiative invested $120,000 specifically into our VetsGo program and the use of those funds will be to expand what we’re currently doing for senior transportation for veterans and their family members beyond the geographical borders that we’re currently serving," she said.