The Reamer Family will be appearing on the season premiere of ABC’s Shark Tank Sunday, October 1 at 8 PM EST. Scott and Megan Reamer (parents of Charlie in 2nd grade) are the founders of Jackson’s Honest Chips. The family was presented with the opportunity about six months ago and filmed their pitch in late June. The crew then selected them for an extended home package which was filmed three days before their oldest son Jackson passed away in Crested Butte.  The family is excited to have this platform to share Jackson’s story and continue to build his legacy.

For those of us who don’t watch much TV, here is an explanation of the show:

Budding entrepreneurs get the chance to bring their dreams to fruition in this reality show from executive producer Mark Burnett. They present their ideas to the sharks in the tank — five titans of industry who made their own dreams a reality and turned their ideas into lucrative empires. The contestants try to convince any one of the sharks to invest money in their idea. When more than one of the sharks decide they want a piece of the action, a bidding war can erupt, driving up the price of the investment.

Parents are encouraged to follow our media guidelines in regards to making a decision to share this show with their children.

The Inspiring Jackson Reamer

Jackson Reamer was an inspiration to all who knew him. His courage in the face of his extremely rare disease was exceeded only by his strength in managing and battling it. One of only seven diagnosed cases of his particular variant of Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome, Jackson’s condition went undiagnosed for 12 years until the National Institute of Health was able to finally diagnose him in 2014. Jackson carried the burden of his disease as if it were a feather. Despite many physical hardships, he laughed often and easily and he smiled as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Being a witness to that, being on the receiving end of those smiles and laughs – humbled all those who knew and loved him. He has left behind in his parents,’ sisters’ and brother’s hearts an enduring spirit, an immeasurable fortitude and a profound sense of gratitude for having been able to love him. Although Jackson was unable to speak, he commanded a room and communicated precisely what his needs, wants, and feelings were to those around him.

His ability to communicate with his eyes was one of his greatest strengths. He was quite pushy in expressing his desire through noises and eye gaze. For instance, he clearly looked at his food when he wanted to eat, the door when he wanted to leave and his Broncos logo when he wanted to watch a game.

The highlight of his winter-aside from the Denver Broncos-was skiing with his family and the wonderful volunteers who work at the Adaptive Sports Center in Crested Butte, CO. In the summer, he loved to roam around Crested Butte in his wheelchair, take drives into the surrounding mountains, and play with his friends and family in the backyard. Over the past several years, Jackson spent his school years in Boulder, CO, while his family sought ongoing medical care at Children’s Hospital Colorado for his rare disease.

Jackson’s years in middle and high school in Boulder were an incredibly rewarding experience for him. Participating in football and basketball, homecoming dances, and spending time with his many school friends enriched his life in so many ways. Many times we caught glimpses of Jackson’s school life and the lives he touched in some way: maybe through his smile or his laugh, maybe because he was a good listener or maybe because he came along and had a great time when kids were ditching school to grab pizza or head to Pearl St. (yes, that happened more times than we knew about).

His legacy lives on in the company, the mission, and the movement of Jackson’s Honest Chips that his struggle founded. One day the joy and privilege of having him in our lives will surpass the pain of having lost him too early.

Watch us on the season premiere of SHARK TANK – October 1, 2017 at 8 pm EST!
For more info about the Jackson’s Honest product, story and mission, read this 2017 profile by The Denver Post, Jackson’s Honest owners turned a quest to save a child into a Colorado-fried potato-chip empire.