Several viewers called Memphis' WHBQ directly after his story aired Friday and said they wanted to help. WHBQ's Siobhan Riley found out how generous donations paid off.
The story of one woman will bring you chills.
She gave away the wheelchair that belonged to her late brother.
“This chair belonged to my brother, he was paralyzed since 2010, he passed away in 2017,” said Jamie Ladd.
After the story aired Friday, Ladd wanted to do something to help Travis Wright.
Someone stole his wheelchair that sat outside his home in the 1500 block of Miller Street, and to make matters worse, his mother, who has stage three breast cancer, had to pick him up and carry him.
“I never knew that I would get emotional to give his wheelchair away, but I just hope he appreciates it as much as he did,” she said. “My brother’s favorite color was red.”
Ladd said her brother, Ali Starks, was paralyzed in 2010 after he was shot during a fight.
She said he got so depressed that he died of an overdose on his birthday.
“I want to say I thank you very much for this wheelchair, and I’m going to treat it with all the kindness,” Wright said. “I ain’t going to let nothing happen to it.”
Wright’s story is very similar to Starks’s. Wright was paralyzed after he was shot while playing basketball at Southside Park.
He said the wheelchair is just like the old wheelchair he used to have that got run over.
“I just want to let you know that I’ll rep your brother everywhere I go and let them know about this chair and who gave it to me and who he is,” he said.
“I hope that you really enjoy this wheelchair,” Ladd said. “I will. To shine light on my brother, this is like of me knowing that he’s still out there.”
Wright is still trying to raise $5,000 to get a standing wheelchair.
So far, he has raised $160.
About the Author