No snow plow? No problem! Thanks to his tinkering expertise and intrepid spirit, one disabled veteran was able to convert his wheelchair into a snow plow.
Justin Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska is an Iraq War veteran and amputee who is fighting brain cancer. Though wheelchair bound, Anderson continues to serve the community by using his home-modified snow plow to clear the sidewalk for his neighbors.
“I don’t want kids or parents having to go through the snow and possibly trip or hurt themselves,” he said.
Anderson modified an off-road wheelchair designed to climb difficult terrain such as snow and ice. He told local reporters that the chair has a “on-the-fly tilt” that allows him to adjust the plow’s blade as he is pushing snow.
While heavy snow can leave commuters frustrated and parents concerned, the sight of Anderson’s innovative off-road wheelchair adeptly moving snow is usually enough to lighten their spirits. For the disabled veteran, giving back to the community is the least he can do after how his neighbors have helped him.
“The community has supported me immensely with my struggles and tough times as I had a leg amputated and my fight with brain cancer. This is my way of giving back,” said Anderson. “Even if I didn’t get any response from anyone – or nobody said ‘thank you’ – I’d still do it.”
Anderson said he plans to continue improving his wheelchair.