Students in The University of Mississippi’s MBA program have started projects raising money to provide a wheelchair for a paralyzed teenager.
Shambrica Whitehead, a teenager from Quitman County, was paralyzed at the age of 14 due to an aneurysm that left her unable to use the left side of her body. She currently resides in a nursing home and therefore cannot receive government aid to provide her with a suitable wheelchair.
Several students in UM Professor Clay Dibrell’s entrepreneurship class have created teams to raise money for a new wheelchair for Whitehead. A suitable nonmotorized wheelchair will cost $3,500 for the necessary parts and assembly. Any additional funds raised will be contributed to Whitehead’s continued medical and day-to-day needs, including her ongoing occupational therapy and tools to help her communicate more effectively.
The fundraising campaigns include selling wristbands, parts of the wheelchair and certificates for different donation amounts.
Dibrell commented on the need for the Ole Miss community’s involvement in this project.
“Following Chancellor Jones’ call for greater community service, it is important that our students feel empowered to solve economic or social problems through entrepreneurship, which may exist in their home communities,” Dibrell said. “Further, the students are actually running these ventures and selling items. It is a great way to help demystify entrepreneurship and to give them greater confidence in their skills.”
The class was introduced to Whitehead’s needs by Angela Box, her occupational therapist. Six of Dibrell’s student groups chose to focus their entrepreneurial projects on raising money for the wheelchair.
“Each member of my group was deeply moved by Whitehead’s story and wanted to do what we could to help her,” said Jessica Turner, one of Dibrell’s students. “It was a no-brainer for us. We felt we had to help her.”
Adrian Skogeng, a student of Dibrell’s, said it is important that students understand the significance of the project.
“We believe it’s important for the Ole Miss students and the rest of the Rebel community to understand how much more Shambrica would be able to do and how much it will affect her life by finally getting a wheelchair that’s meeting the required standards for her condition,” Skogeng said.
The fundraisers, which are available for online donations, will continue until April 29.
