Area man sees a need in Trussville, responds to it by donating a motorized wheelchair
TRUSSVILLE — When Akevia Smith was a senior in high school a spinal injury left him with limited use of his legs. As an avid sports lover, and soccer player, he moved to the sidelines because he refused to let his injuries side-line him. Smith spent the next decade, while in college and after, running a recreational sports league at UAB. He then spent a year coaching in Colorado. After Mr. Smith returned to Alabama he took a position with the Trussville Parks and Recreation department. He has been there for 12 years.
Smith has a laid-back manner and an easy smile, but there is passion that emerges when he talks about sports and there is pride when he talks about bringing sports not just to the children of Trussville but to the city’s adults and senior adults as well. Over the years Smith has enriched a great many lives and he has made a great many friends along the way. One of those friends is Heath Elrod. Elrod’s son plays for a flag football team that Smith is involved with, and he himself plays for an adult softball team that Smith is also involved with. Elrod is also a sales representative for Elrod Mobility.
Elrod Mobility is a durable mobility service out of Bessemer. They sell wheel chairs, scooters, lift chairs and equipment for transporting mobility devices. They recently celebrated their 30-year anniversary. Over those decades they’ve donated mobility equipment to wounded warriors, retired fire fighters, retired police and even the homeless. As Elrod explained it, “When we see a need we always try and do what we can do.”
Elrod saw a need last Thursday when Smith was refereeing a flag football game his son was playing in. “I saw him Thursday night, he was out there refereeing. He was scooting about, and refereeing the game and I thought to myself; he could really use this just in his daily activities at work or on the field.” It was then that he decided Elrod Mobility would donate a motorized wheel chair to Akevia Smith.
Smith doesn’t normally referee the games but that night he stepped in, using a walking stick to get around the field. “Currently I’m having a lot of issue with my legs. I was out there Thursday night because we were short an official. It’s my job to get out there and make it as best as I can for the fans and the kids, so I got out there and I refereed. I was dragging my leg around, down the field and he stopped me. He said ‘Hey, let me ask you a question, how would you like a motorized wheelchair?’”
Smith was stunned, “I was extremely shocked. It is always nice when you put a lot of heart in what you do, and sometimes you have situations in your life that cause you not to be able to do things that you want to have people that you work for and people that you put yourself out for are appreciative. The way that this company has come out. That just makes you feel that much better about the community you serve. Just knowing that there are great people that would do that for you. That see you … it is just tremendous.”
Elrod was humble about the donation, saying, “I just saw a need. He’s good with the kids, he’s good with the parents. With the flag football and the adult softball. He’s always taken care of us.” But, he later added, “He will have to be able to transport it so if there is someone else out there, they may need to donate a lift.” Elrod also suggested that if funds were donated for the lift Elrod Mobility might could provide one at cost or close to it.
The motorized wheelchair that Elrod provided is an IMC Heartway. It is a sturdy looking device with large wheels that have deep tread. In it Smith will have no problems traveling anywhere, including ball fields, “I can get around and watch over and train the officials. This is going to allow me to get around and see what is going on and do my job a whole lot better. Because without being able to move around it is hard to be able to see what is going on. Although I do have great co-workers that assist me in getting around. That is a great thing!”
Smith continued, “I wanted to thank Elrod for donating this to me. I really appreciate it. I’m trying not to cry, I’ve got tears in my eyes. I thank him again, so much. Its been a journey right now with my legs.
