A chance encounter between a Packwood-based musician and a group involved with the Sunshine Physically Challenged Foundation recently resulted in a heartwarming experience for all involved.
Aaron Gorton, who performs as the One-Man Jam Band, related the story to The Chronicle, noting it “could help bring some attention and support to an incredible group of people doing something really special here in Lewis County.”
A few weeks ago, while driving home from SeaTac, Gorton stopped at Jimmy John’s for a sandwich and struck up a conversation with a man named Razier Valdez. They started talking about Packwood, music and the area, and Valdez told Gorton about a group he and his family are involved with called the Sunshine Physically Challenged Foundation.
The organization, led by Razier’s father, Ray Valdez puts together an annual camping trip in Packwood that brings people with physical and developmental disabilities from different parts of Washington together for several days of camping, community and outdoor activities.
“The conversation stuck with me, and I told Razier that I’m a local musician who performs around Packwood,” Gorton told The Chronicle. “That eventually led to me being invited to play music for their group here in Packwood on Sept. 15. What happened was one of those completely organic community moments that you don’t really plan. I played roughly two hours of music around the campfire, including sing-along favorites and some of my original music.”
Gorton’s friend Abram Gardipee joined him and brought another element of magic to the evening. Gardipee provides spinning and LED light performances, “and after we happened to get some rain in the area, the conditions were safe for him to do a fire performance in the woods,” Gorton said.
Between the campfire, the music, the lights and the fire spinning, it created an unforgettable atmosphere, Gorton said.
Another friend of Gorton, Colton Stark, photographed and recorded some of the evening. Mountain Goat Coffee, where Gorton works in Packwood, contributed desserts for attendees after dinner.
“What really stood out to me, though, wasn’t the music. It was the people,” Gorton said. “The campers, their families and the volunteers who put this event together were some of the most welcoming and genuinely wonderful people. I’ve had the opportunity to meet Ray Valdez and Barry Klettke and family have created an opportunity for people who don’t always have easy access to these kinds of outdoor experiences to come together, get out into nature, camp, socialize and simply have a great time together.”
The annual camping trip lasts roughly four days and three nights, and people come from different parts of Washington to participate, Gorton said.
“After spending the evening with them, I felt like more people in our local community should know about what they’re doing,” Gorton said. “From what I understand, the organization relies heavily on volunteers and donations to keep these experiences going, and the people involved put a tremendous amount of their own time and resources into making them happen.”
Sunshine Physically Challenged Foundation was established in 1983 in Vancouver, Washington, as a nonprofit charitable organization committed to serving people with physical disabilities, according to its website.
To learn more about the nonprofit and to donate, visit https://tinyurl.com/4bc7pnbj.
To learn more about Gorton’s music, visit https://aarongortonmusic.com/.
