Chair The Hope Co-Founder Nathan Ogden discovered that his wheelchair had been stolen while watching a football game.
Watch for the full story.
The Meridian man who had his wheelchair stolen at a Boise State football game in September is giving back in a big way after the community showed him so much support.
Read Transcript:
We have an update on Nathan Ogden, the Meridian man who had his wheelchair stolen at a Boise State football game in September. Although the wheelchair was never found, he has received so much support since then.
It’s turning into a positive thing, not just for him, but for so many others. As our Tami Tremblay tells us, there’s an event coming up next week where you can get involved.
During the Boise State-Virginia game, Nathan Ogden’s customized wheelchair disappeared.
Nathan Ogden, “You know, it happens. Bad things happen.”
It still has not been found.
Nathan: I think people were more angry than I ever was. In everything that happens, you have to look for the good.
And he says that so much good has followed the theft in September. Including someone stepping up, buying him a new wheelchair.
Nathan: The love and support was awesome.
And he says it just kept coming.
Nathan: Hundreds of thousands of people were following what was happening. Where is his wheelchair, why did it happen? And because of that, we met some neat people who said, “Nathan, we want to help.”
Many of them donated money. Around $22,000 has been raised so far. Nathan says it will go to a cause close to his family’s heart. The Wheelchair Foundation.
It’s going towards wheelchairs for those who need them.
Nathan, his wife Heather, their four children are planning to help deliver the wheelchairs to poor communities in Mexico in the Spring.
Put them in a chair and say, “Hey listen, this is yours. You get to keep it. You can now live dreams, you can now play, you can now do what you want to do.”
Nathan Ogden
And they want to do that for as many people as possible. So before the trip a benefit is being planned called Chair The Hope.
It’s going to be an amazing event.
A donor has already said he will match up to $20,000 raised.
Nathan says all the positive deeds have helped him stay positive.
For these last two months sitting in a chair that has caused more pain. It limits my ability to do the things I want to do. It stinks. It’s not fun. It’s harder on my family. It’s been hard on me. However, the good that’s coming out of this, far outweighs any discomfort that I’m going through.
In Boise, I’m Tami Tremblay. Idaho’s News Channel 7.
Source: https://www.ktvb.com/video/news/local/nathan-ogden-gives-back-after-community-support/277-2817084
