South Fort Myers student receives new wheelchair
South Fort Myers student Tre Daniels received a generous gift Tuesday - a new wheelchair to get around school.
Tuesday, January 31st 2017, 6:10 PM EST
In November, NBC2 introduced you to 18-year-old Tre who was born with cerebral palsy. He outgrew his wheelchair from 2010 and it was falling apart. But a new one would cost nearly $4,000.
The National Honor Society decided to raise the money, and after our story aired, the donations poured in and allowed the students to present Tre with the generous gift.
"I am like wow!" Tre's mother Catherine Jackson said. "I had to cry a little bit because I did not know that people really cared that much for someone in his situation, but that just lets you know that people do care and he is so special. He is a special guy."
Life Skills teacher Kim Bathey has been there from the beginning and was thrilled to see how hard the students and other worked to make this wheelchair a reality for a deserving young man in need.
"I am on an all time high," Bathey said. "To see all of the hard work o f the students and the community and the school embracing this project and Tre's end reaction of a smile. The gift we have given his parents, the list keeps going on and on. It is an amazing day."
"We got to see him get put into the wheelchair," said senior and NHS member Gabrielle Taveras. "He was smiling. Some of us were crying. It is the best feeling in the world to know you helped a classmate."
People said Tre already looks happier, more comfortable and confident in his new chair.
At last check, more than $12,000 had been raised enabling the school to purchase a new wheelchair for another student who was just jitted for it Tuesday.
The extra money will also be used to add wheelchair accessible ramps around the school.