SHELBY — Aaron Farnsworth just wants to be a normal kid. With the help of the Pioneer Career and Technology Center’s Power Equipment program, he is moving in that direction — moving is the key word.
When he joined the Boy Scouts in his hometown of Bellville, he used crutches to get around. But soon his aggressive Muscular Dystrophy robbed the 16-year-old of nearly all motion in his limbs, according to his Scout Master, Randy Echelberger.
So, his Boy Scout Troop purchased a golf cart five years ago so Aaron could move around while the troop camped in the summer.
“The last few years, it hadn’t been running well at all,” Echelberger said. “And a parent in our Troop got (in touch with the Pioneer trade school).
“Without the cart, he couldn’t not be in Scouts. It’s that important.”
The power equipment program’s students worked to repair the golf cart for the Boy Scouts.
“It was pretty rough,” said Rick Harvey, instructor of the program. “The engine was completely junk. We had to take the engine out of it, it has new pistons, new rings, new bearings … The muffler was also modified because it was pretty torn up.”
Harvey said the parts were donated from Motor Tech USA and Shelby Golf Carts.
The instructor used the favor as a lesson for the students who handled the bulk of the work and fabricated muffler parts with sheet metal.
“It’s learning — it took us about three months,” Harvey said. “We don’t usually get big projects like this and it’s tough to get everyone in on it and learn, but we felt this one was important.”
Aaron saw the finished product Monday afternoon for the first time. His mother, Heather Farnsworth was excited he could use it again for Boy Scout events.
“It works out really good for campouts and when he goes to camp because it’s really rugged terrain and he can’t take his power chair. This is able to get him from one end to another in no time at all,” Farnsworth said. “It’s great for him to be able to participate in things normal kids can.”
Aaron mirrored a more simple thought.
“It helps me around from place to place,” he said. “It’s special.”
The new and improved cart will also be used in the Memorial Day parade in Bellville.
