Charles Hubbard, Staff Reporter

(Lakeville, SC) This year the annual Lakeville Fall Carnival, always a community crowd-pleaser, had an extra-special twist. Staff and students at E. L. Pinckney Junior High School pulled together a special benefit raffle for one of their own—an inspirational young woman with dreams of a brand-new wheelchair.

“It was a wonderful event,” said Dr. Bruce Grayling, school principal and organizer of the event. “It goes to show what a small community can do when it sets its mind to it. And a worthy cause like this always strikes a heartstring.”

The worthy cause is Emelyn Ethrige, a seventh grader at E. L. Pinckney and longtime source of inspiration to her classmates and teachers. Born with spina bifida, Emelyn has tragically never been able to walk, but that doesn’t stop the young dynamo from being an active part of her school and community.

“Once we realized the cost of the chair,” said Dr. Grayling of the school’s decision to help raise the funds for Emmie’s dream, “it made sense to pull together for her.” Prior to his career in school administration, Dr. Grayling was active in mission-based fundraising to help disadvantaged communities in South and Central America.

The community raffle brought in an impressive $2,678. At the carnival, Emelyn had fun with her friends, enjoyed the games, and seemed excited and grateful for everyone’s efforts on her behalf.

“It’s definitely overwhelming,” she said, when asked how she felt about everyone’s helping her reach her goal. Then, true to her spunky nature, she rushed off to rejoin her friends.

The E. L. Pinckney JHS family will present the money to Emelyn in a community ceremony at the school on Sunday, October 24, at 7:00 p.m.

The article’s taped up on the wall beside the office on Monday morning. I’m not sure why I have the sudden urge to peel it off, make it into an airplane, and aim it at the trash can.

Maybe I feel like I’ve missed a beat somewhere. All this time, Dr. Grayling has been so focused on all the things he thinks I shouldn’t do. Watching me in the halls and in the gym, frowning like me wanting to do my thing is his own personal headache. Now he’s suddenly head of the Emmie Cheerleading Squad. Leading the charge for a new set of wheels. Talking about it to people from the news. Something doesn’t make sense.

Then there’s the article itself. All those same old words like inspirational and tragically and grateful that everyone seems to assume wouldn’t bug me … but they do.

It’s like being stuck under a microscope.

In a wheelchair. Like some worm in a bait bucket.

I ride on wheels. Not in them.

Maybe it would be easier to explain if I was better with words.

Everybody’s so excited, though. Even my friends.

Especially my friends, actually. And I don’t know how to say any of those doubtful thoughts out loud without sounding like a jerk. I know how hard Ale and Tina worked on posters and social media for the fundraiser. Markus and Zeke and Devontae did a lot, getting donations to be raffled and helping decorate the gym. Lots of other people pitched in, too.