At first glance, Cody and Colton might seem worlds apart—Cody hails from Western Massachusetts, while Colton resides in Southwest Colorado. However, their stories reveal a shared journey of resilience, determination, and the support of The Joseph Groh Foundation.
Cody grew up working alongside his father at Davenport Construction, a company specializing in commercial building projects, including site work, paving, and septic work. He planned to continue in the family business after high school, but a motocross accident changed his path, leaving him with a T8 complete spinal cord injury and no sensation below his rib cage.
Colton’s path was also shaped by construction. He started in log home construction during high school, then transitioned to working for a general contractor, where he gained experience in concrete pouring, framing, and operating construction equipment. His drive led him to Texas, where he worked on road construction and oilfield platform preparation. While traveling between Texas and Colorado, he helped his father haul logs— until a log fell from the trailer, striking him in the back and leaving him with an incomplete T7 spinal cord injury.
Despite their different backgrounds, both men faced a similar challenge: navigating hilly, and at times mountainous, terrain in a manual wheelchair. Recognizing the strain this placed on their shoulders, they each sought the Rio Firefly 2.5 electric wheelchair attachment—an innovative device that transforms a manual wheelchair into a powered one.
Thanks to the generosity of The Joseph Groh Foundation’s donors, Cody and Colton now have the mobility assistance they need to reclaim their independence. Their stories are a testament to perseverance and the impact of community support.
For more information about The Joseph Groh Foundation and how you can help support individuals in the construction trades facing life-altering injuries, please visit josephgrohfoundation.org.
About The Joseph Groh Foundation: Established in 2009, the Joseph S Groh Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals within the contracting and construction trades who face truly, life-altering disabilities. The foundation has provided financial assistance totaling $1.2 million to 121 families in the contracting and construction trades industry in 34 states ranging from wheelchair accessible vans and home/bath remodels to assistive technology, rehab equipment, home repairs and more. The foundation also offers information to individuals with disabilities through its website.
Our foundation’s inception is rooted in a profound event on Father’s Day of 2008. Joe Groh, an HVAC industry veteran, experienced a life-altering accident during a bike ride, resulting in quadriplegia. Despite the challenges, Joe’s resilience inspired the creation of this mask foundation. His story and our mission can be explored further on our website at www.josephgrohfoundation.org.
The post The Joseph Groh Foundation Supports Two Young Men with Life-Changing Mobility Assistance first appeared on HVAC Insider.
