Ricky Jessee

For Ricky Jessee, staying connected to the world around him isn’t something he takes for granted.

Born and raised in a coal mining camp in West Virginia, Ricky enlisted in the United States Army in 1976 and served until 1985 as an aviation aircraft inspector. During his military career, he also trained Green Berets in martial arts, building a life centered on discipline, service, and helping others succeed.

Years later, the injuries he sustained during his military service caught up with him.

Today, Ricky lives in a campground community in North Carolina, where the winding roads, gravel paths, and uneven terrain make mobility a daily challenge. Unable to walk more than a few feet without assistance or stand for more than a couple of minutes, he depends on a mobility scooter to accomplish even the simplest tasks. Checking the mail. Visiting neighbors. Attending campground gatherings. Running errands.

Without reliable transportation, those everyday moments became nearly impossible.

“If I don’t have a scooter,” Ricky said, “I can’t go anywhere.”

When the scooter he received through the VA repeatedly broke down and struggled to handle the terrain where he lives, Ricky found himself increasingly confined to his home. Despite knowing the equipment wasn’t meeting his needs, he was told he would have to keep using it. Everything changed when Freedom Mobility Foundation stepped in.

After learning about Ricky’s situation, the foundation provided him with an all-terrain Pride mobility scooter designed for the environment he navigates every day. The difference was immediate. Compared to his previous scooter, the new one offered the power, durability, and reliability he had been missing.

“It was just terrific,” Ricky said.“I can get around to any place in here. It’s powerful, it’s rugged, it’s built for off-road, and I just love it.”

With his new scooter, Ricky has regained more than mobility. He’s regained the ability to participate in everyday life.

He can once again visit friends throughout the campground, attend community events, make trips to the office, and ride alongside neighbors instead of watching life happen from inside his home. The scooter also travels with him in his van, allowing him to shop independently and remain active beyond his neighborhood.

“It’s changed my whole quality of life,” Ricky said. “Being mobile changes everything.”

For Ricky, the emotional impact has been just as meaningful as the physical one. Being unable to leave the house had become isolating and discouraging. Having dependable mobility has restored his confidence and allowed him to reconnect with the people and places that bring him joy.

“It makes you feel like you’re just like everybody else,” he said.

Looking back, Ricky says receiving the scooter was a reminder that there are still people willing to step in when someone needs help. To the donors who made his gift possible, his message is simple.

“I’d like them to know their donations totally affect people’s lives,” Ricky said.

“You’re improving someone’s quality of life. There are no words to express how grateful we are.”

For Ricky, the all-terrain scooter represents much more than dependable transportation. It has restored his ability to remain part of his community, maintain his independence, and continue living life on his own terms.