No punchline … just an amazing and inspiring story of two young people who could not have imagined how successful they’d be with their shared dream.
In 2012, cousins and fellow Moravian College students, Shane Burcaw and Sarah Burcaw, co-founded Laughing At My Nightmare (LAMN), a nonprofit with the same name as Shane’s popular humorous and poignant blog about living with a severe form of muscular dystrophy. Their goal was “to spread laughter and provide support to others living with similar conditions.”
I was initially drawn to LAMN because I had a cousin who had muscular dystrophy, and I’ve fallen in love with how this nonprofit evolved to honor disability and inclusivity. It does so by providing free adaptive equipment and assistive technology, as well as college scholarships, to members of the disability community — “empowering abilities and transforming lives.”
LAMN recently reported it earned the 2024 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid (formerly GuideStar), the highest level of recognition for nonprofit accountability and impact.
According to Shane and Sarah:
“Twelve years ago, when LAMN was just a dream, we knew little about running a 501(c)(3). But we were determined to create an organization that would change lives through laughter and empower people with disabilities by restoring comfort and independence through equipment grants.
“The Platinum Seal represents our commitment to transparency, financial responsibility, and measurable impact. It reflects our mission, strategies, and the incredible work we accomplish with your support.”
Congratulations, Sarah and Shane!
[Image credit: Ian Schneider on Unsplash]