Former Positively Jax award winner says van gift fuels his mission to help others

3 years ago 237

A Positively Jax update astir a erstwhile victor who proves a thankful bosom tin pb to astonishing things. About a twelvemonth ago, John Marcus became the proprietor of a wheelchair accessible van. He says it has lone fueled his ngo to assistance others.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – John Marcus, who was showcased arsenic a Positively Jax grant victor successful August 2020, is simply a antheral who proves a thankful bosom tin pb to astonishing things.

He became the proprietor of a wheelchair-accessible van that holds a peculiar spot successful our hearts present astatine News4Jax. That van erstwhile belonged to News4Jax enforcement shaper Sharon Siegel-Cohen, who mislaid her combat with ALS. Marcus said the van has fueled his ngo to assistance others.

Here’s a small past astir Marcus due to the fact that it’s that past that acceptable his beingness connected a antithetic path.

Marcus was successful his elder twelvemonth astatine Raines High School successful 2003 erstwhile helium was progressive a superior clang that near him paralyzed. Maybe helium couldn’t determination his legs but helium was moved to assistance others. Through the years, helium raised wealth by conducting foundation drives. He visited schools to assistance motivate others. And helium served arsenic a mentor sharing his story.

That van and a motorized wheelchair, arsenic good arsenic funds that News4Jax viewers helped rise done a GoFundMe account, helped John fulfill his extremity to motivate others. The donations came rolling successful and that imagination became his reality.

John Marcus became the proprietor of a wheelchair accessible van that holds a peculiar spot successful our hearts present astatine News4Jax. It erstwhile belonged to News4Jax enforcement shaper Sharon Siegel-Cohen, who mislaid her combat with ALS. (WJXT)

Fast guardant to today. Marcus refuses to fto the pandemic dilatory him down and is expanding his outreach

“I partnered with this radical called ‘Silent Women Speaking,’” Marcus said. “So I’ve been sharing my communicative with those women who mislaid their kids to weapon unit successful the area. And I’ve been doing a batch of programs with that and conscionable sharing my communicative with them and conscionable letting them cognize that thing they’re going through, nary substance what their concern is, enactment strong.”

Marcus has his sights acceptable connected the adjacent project.

“I bash privation to spell to antithetic cities similar Orlando oregon Miami and stock my story, fto them cognize astir the occupation markets project,” helium said.

With Thanksgiving conscionable a fewer weeks distant helium talked astir what helium is thankful for.

“Definitely thankful for the van. I’m thankful for life, family, friends -- conscionable being alive,” Marcus said.

Marcus mentioned helium wanted to grow his outreach beyond Jacksonville. He hoped to beryllium good connected his mode with that by now, but the pandemic enactment up a fewer roadblocks. But Marcus, successful lawsuit you haven’t figured it out, isn’t 1 to fto thing get successful his way. He is determined and promises it volition hap successful the adjacent future.