For many, the ability to move freely is a gift that goes largely unnoticed. The abilities to walk to the mailbox, stroll with grocery carts or even drive to work are all tasks that we often don’t pay much thought too.

However, for some, these tasks require immense focus and planning to perform. Wayne Landis of Mentone and Andrea Ebersole of Warsaw are two individuals who struggle with mobility everyday. However, through the help of The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association, either Landis or Ebersole may be able to win a customized wheelchair accessible vehicles that could help change their lives.

The “Local Heroes” campaign features candidates from across the United States and Canada who have shared their stories on how they, or someone they know, have overcome the challenges of living with a disability. Once posted on the campaigns website, viewers may go online and vote for who they believe is the most deserving to win the wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Wayne Landis, Mentone

On June 17, 1994, Landis, who was only 33 at the time, fell 18 feet from the eave of a church while roofing. The fall left him a paraplegic.

According to Landis‘ story, featured on his profile on the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association site, he has continued his teaching career since his incident and has been teaching full-time for a total of 27 years.

Landis is also the president of the Tippecanoe Valley Teacher’s Association and an Indiana State Teacher’s Representative, past coach for girl’s softball, announcer for Tippecanoe Valley basketball and baseball, and a keyboardist at his church. He also prepares the church bulletin and is the financial secretary and trustee as well.

Landis and his wife, Beth, are the parents of Zach, 17 months, and Jeremy, 6 1/2 months.

When traveling as a family, Beth said she disassembles his chair and places it in the trunk of the car. However, when she is unable to be present, Landis must attempt to disassemble the chair himself, lifting it in and across his body to the passenger side several times a day whether it is raining, snowing or sunny.

Landis has been utilizing a Monte Carlo for the past 19 plus years with hand controls only. Beth said it would be a blessing for them to receive the modified vehicle as they have persevered for 19 years through the hardships associated with Landis‘ disability. The disassembling of Landis’ chair has become increasingly difficult for him as he gets older.

“It is becoming more difficult for Wayne to disassemble and assemble his chair as he is getting older and his body is showing the strain from lifting and transferring,” said Beth Landis. “A modified van would allow Wayne to remain mobile and bear the inclement weather easier.”

Andrea Ebersole, Warsaw

Ebersole begins her personal statement on her profile with, “To begin with, I don’t consider myself to be a hero, but a blessed person with a disability.”

Ebersole was diagnosed with polio at the tender age of seven and was paralyzed from the neck down. Though many would be defeated by this diagnosis, Ebersole never stopped striving to lead a mobile, productive life. Ebersole said through many surgeries and therapy she gained the ability to walk with crutches and braces up until 2008.

She strove to be an active member of society and the work place, working full-time at Cardinal Center for 26 years. While in the process of procuring a new power-chair and an accessible van through Vocational Rehabilitation due to the increasing strain of getting around, disaster struck when she fell and broke her leg. Though she attempted to return to her workplace for three days, she soon ended up with a MRSA infection that struck three times and lost her job.

Ebersole states, “The one blessing was that my new chair and accessible van finally came after an 8-month wait, which made it so much easier to get to medical appointments. Having the infection caused the braces to be disposed of and I had to wait to get new ones made after the infection healed up.”

After being layed off, Ebersole continued on her mission to be productive. She stated in her time she voluntarily does the bookwork for her church, and reached out to offer assistance to two elderly friends who needed help being escorted to doctor’s appointments and other places.

“With having an accessible van, my husband and I have been able to take them for medical appointments, errands, and shopping, etc…” she said. “I have become a health care representative for a friend in a nursing home who has no family which requires shopping, errands and appointments. I have been able to do many more things to help people because of the van giving me more independence and mobility. I feel God provided the van so we could reach out to others.”

Though Ebersole was able to share the use of her van with others in need, she said the vehicle has aged and necessitates many repairs she and her husband are unable to afford.

“Now that my husband and I are on fixed incomes, we are not able to afford a new van,” Ebersole explained. “… Winning an accessible van would be a miracle for us.”

To help Landis or Ebersole fulfill their dreams of obtaining a new, customized, handicapped accessible van simply click here to vote for Landis or click here to vote for Ebersole.

To enter yourself or someone you know for the Local Hero contest, visit The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association website. Only one vote per IP address will be allotted per day. Voting will conclude on Friday, May 10, and winners will be selected Monday, May 20. Winners will be announced by NMEDA on Friday, May 31.