If you’re at a sports game, whether cheering in the crowd or playing on a team, you’ve probably seen Aaron Cox enjoying the game. This business administration major hopes to work in the sports industry after he graduates in May, and he loves both playing and watching sports. Before college, he played on a wheelchair basketball team called the Komets, which was a traveling team that played all across the country. Now, Aaron is a part-time coach for the Komets. The Komets are a league team unconnected to the high school he attended, Penncrest High School, where he grew up in Media, Pennsylvania. Unsurprisingly, his favorite sport to watch is basketball, and his favorite basketball team is the Philadelphia 76’s.
Aaron has been called “energetic and social” by his friends, who say that “he is loved by many students and brings joy to everyone on a daily basis”. Since he attends a variety of sporting matches, he often befriends members of the teams and he’s been “an integral part of this campus” in the years he’s been a student.
Right now, Aaron is in need of a new wheelchair. His previous wheelchair is from January of 2015, making it seven years old, and it’s no longer working the way it needs to. The motor often struggles and shuts down, making it difficult to go up and down the hills of Eastern’s campus. Without his battery working the way it’s supposed to, Aaron has to push his chair everywhere, which significantly increases the work needed to get from place to place. The battery pushes with a force four times stronger than a single manual push.
These wheelchairs are expensive, costing $15- 20,000. Additional accommodations to the wheelchair add up fast, making this essential mobility aid an expensive purchase. Aaron’s previous wheelchair has been having problems, and he started the long process of acquiring a new one in September of last year. There were two medical appointments before he could even be measured for the chair, which occurred in November. After measurement, it typically takes about four to five months to actually get the chair.
Eastern’s Enactus is creating a campus-wide fundraiser to raise money for Aaron’s new wheelchair. There will be more information forthcoming, so keep an eye for that! Enactus is a verified on-campus chapter of the larger Enactus originization. They’re “an international non-profit organization that brings together student, academic and business leaders who are committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.” If you’d like to learn more about their organization or find more information about the fundraiser once it gets started, check out the website for Eastern’s Enactus chapter at enactus.wixsite.com.
Eastern strives to provide a supportive, tight-knit community of people, but that can only happen if everyone is willing to work together to make that happen. Please consider donating if you can. Enactus stated in an interview that they believe in our community will come together for this fundraiser because “as a part of the Eastern University community, we should want to help one another”. Indeed, not only as members of the community, but also as siblings in Christ, we are called to help one another out in times of trouble. Hebrews 13:16 says, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased”. Hopefully, working together, we can make a difference in Aaron’s life with this fundraiser for a deeply worthy cause.
Please email enactus@eastern.edu or asocci@eastern.edu to learn how to donate.
Katherine Thomas 
Will Cunningham 
Lenora Kirkland