Rampathon 2023
Rampathon 2023 was a Huge Success!
Rampathon 2023 is in the books and oh what a huge success and fun two days it was! Every year Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS) organizes ramp building projects throughout the two counties for families who need a ramp built (or rebuilt) so a wheelchair bound family member can easily access the home.
Builders who are MBAKS members and in the two counties, volunteer to take on these projects. In addition to the builders, other companies also make a huge impact with their donations. Dunn Lumber supplies the building materials for all the ramps, and MBAKS finds the locations where the ramp builds will happen, coordinates all the volunteers, supplies shirts for the workers, and answers all the questions we have. We at Northlight also have great friends and partners in the building and real estate industries who very graciously volunteered materials and their weekend time to help out. We cannot express enough thanks to Andrea Fjortoft of Windermere North who came out on Saturday to help out, our local Sherwin Williams rep Ronni Mader who supplied all the stain, and DC Transport and Materials, Inc. who supplied the gravel we needed at the last minute to fill in the area around the ramp. Everyone’s generosity was overwhelming and very much appreciated!
Helping Families
Northlight Custom Builders was matched up with the Miller family in Everett, WA who’s son has cerebral palsy and suffers from seizures. He is wheelchair bound, and now that he is a grown up, his mom is no longer able to get him into or out of their house without the aid of a ramp. The house was built in 1919, a time when accessibility was definitely not part of the build plan.
The original front steps where very steep and lead up to a small covered front porch. Over time the yard had become very uneven and definitely not wheelchair friendly. In 2008 a Rampathon team built their original ramp, but it was in definite need of a redo and upgrade as time and the Pacific Northwest weather have taken their toll.
From our first meeting with the family we felt the gratitude and appreciation for the work we were about to do. They worked hard ahead of our scheduled build day to get the surrounding yard cleaned up and ready for a work crew.
Day one of our project started with demolition of the old ramp and prepping everything for the new ramp to be built. We also trimmed back an overgrown cedar tree in the yard, evened out the dirt area around the ramp and covered it with pea gravel.
Day two was the main build day with all hands on deck building and staining trying to beat the rain that was on the horizon. Our team of volunteers worked very hard but also had a great time working together for such a wonderful family. We were able to accomplish what we set out to do to finish the ramp so it was ready to be used the next day.
We are now looking forward to next year and what our next Rampathon project will be!
