Nacogdoches community surprises teen with off-road mobility wheelchair

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) - One Nacogdoches teen now has a new way to get around. Saturday at the Nacogdoches Expo Center, supporters of 13-year-old Cason Snider came together to make life easier for him and his family after a car crash.

Cason Snider is much like your average teen. His mother, Terri Snider says he’s smart and determined, but what’s not average about Cason are his circumstances.

“It was hard, that first year was very, very hard but he has been so strong,” said Terri.

In 2017, a car wreck left Cason paralyzed from the waist down at 5 years old. For years, Cason missed out on activities other kids could do because of his wheelchair.

“There’s been instances where there’s a big hill and he just can’t go up it and when he was little, we could’ve carried him but he’s getting bigger,” said Terri.

Saturday, family, friends and supporters made a way for him to experience life in a different seat.

Nacogdoches Law Enforcement Foundation President Korey Kahler says Cason’s dad, Chris, is an officer with NPD. After knowing the family and their struggles, Kahler said he got help from donors to buy Cason a Mobility Wheelchair. The Terrain Hopper can help Cason get around rugged terrain for hunting, hiking and more.

“We just want to show the officers that as a community we support them. As any parent knows, when your child suffers you suffer too,” said Kahler.

To go with the over $18,000 chair from the Charles and Lois Marie Bright Foundation, Cason got other surprises too. The Texas Game Warden Association gave him a lifetime hunting and fishing license; Niche Creek Kennels donated 10 years of Federal Duck Stamps; AWOL NWTF gave Cason a Beretta shotgun and Whitetail Hunt w/Taxidermy; Pineywoods Ambucs donated a $300 Academy Sports and Outdoors gift card; JMB Fishing Foundation gave him an exotic hunting and fishing trip w/taxidermy; East Texas Dallas Safari Club donated a cargo trailer.

Terri says her family is grateful for the support and love of Nacogdoches.

“It’s just going to give him access to the world in a whole new way. To see that he’ll be able to do the same things other kids are doing, go enjoy the beach, go enjoy hiking, enjoy the same places other people get to enjoy, is amazing,” said Terri.

Kahler says they’ve also planned to take Cason on some free hunting trips to enjoy his new gear.