Local hero in contest to win new van

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 5/14/15

He’s got places to be and people to meet, but Evan Huddon needs your help to do it.

His family needs a new wheelchair-accessible van, and has been entered to win one through an online voting …

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Local hero in contest to win new van

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He’s got places to be and people to meet, but Evan Huddon needs your help to do it.

His family needs a new wheelchair-accessible van, and has been entered to win one through an online voting contest as a part of National Mobility Awareness Month.

Evan, a 15-year-old Warwick resident, was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

Spina bifida is a condition in which the development of the spine and its vertebrae is not complete, often resulting in portions of the spinal cord being outside of the body at birth. Evan’s parents knew 18 weeks into the pregnancy that their son would be born with the condition.

Julie Huddon, Evan’s mother, said she cried for “maybe 10 minutes” upon hearing the news.

“I said if God thinks I can handle this, then I know I can,” she said.

Hydrocephalus is a buildup of fluids in the brain. After he was born, Evan had a shunt used to drain the excess fluid.

At only 8 months old, Evan had undergone seven surgeries. To date, he has had 21 surgeries.

Don’t let that fool you – Evan doesn’t let anything slow him down. He is one busy guy.

Evan said that doctors are always surprised at how fast he recovers, commenting on how strong he is. He participates in a bowling league every year, plays football for the University of Rhode Island through Team IMPACT, is on a Challenger Baseball team, and often goes sailing during the summer.

Despite an already busy schedule, Evan also does a lot of volunteer work. For the past six years, he has helped raise money for the Hasbro Children’s Hospital Radiothon.

Last year, he organized a hat day for Gorton Junior High School and even sat in “jail” – an emptied out ball container – at the local Wal-Mart, all in the name of Hasbro. In 2011 he was named the Children’s Miracle Network Champion for Hasbro.

“I want to give back to the hospital that made me healthy, strong and well,” Evan said.

Just this past Earth Day, Evan met up with girls from Ms. Rhode Island to clean up Providence.

“I feel like a manager some of the time,” Julie said, “bringing him everywhere he needs to be. He’s so active and part of this community. I don’t want that to have to slow down.”

This is why she nominated her son for National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association’s (NMEDA) National Mobility Awareness Month Local Heroes Contest.

May is National Mobility Awareness Month, and the NMEDA will be giving away four wheelchair-accessible vans to local heroes around the country who receive the highest vote totals. Evan is the only nominee in Rhode Island.

Currently, the Huddons’ van is 10 years old and “falling apart.”

Julie said she can no longer put money into their current van, but a new one would cost upward of $55,000. She said winning the new van would take a lot of pressure off the family and would ensure that Evan doesn’t have to ease off his busy and active lifestyle.

Watching the voting, mother and son said people have been coming out in droves to show their support for Evan.

“Watching votes coming in one after another … brought me to tears,” Julie said. “Evan doesn’t always realize how popular and loved he really is.”

Besides the charitable work Evan does, Julie said his real heroism comes via his positive attitude. Through every surgery and every adversity Evan has faced, he has never let it drag him down.

“We can learn a lot from him,” Julie said. “He has never asked why he always has to go to the hospital or why he is in a wheelchair. He has always been so strong and seen the good of every situation. He makes the most of everything.”

“Please vote so I can win,” Evan joked. “I’ve got places to be.”

Julie estimated that Evan was in the top 80 of contestants, and has a good chance of winning if people come out. As of Friday, Evan had nearly 3,000 votes.

You can place a vote once a day from any valid email address at www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/evan-huddon-warwick-ri.

Comments

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  • RIposter

    Here is the link. http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/local-heroes/

    Thursday, May 14, 2015 Report this

  • RIposter

    There are 3 RI kids, you can vote once a day...

    Thursday, May 14, 2015 Report this