Stuart, FL – When the video showing the beating of Okeechobee teen, Aaron Hill, who has autism went viral, Treasure Coast Harley-Davidson decided to help out. We reported on this incident in early August, the article can be read here.Every weekend the 16-year-old will learn all about working with motorcycles. WPTV News Channel 5 met with Jim LaBar, who owns the shop and he had this to say:
“I’m going to teach him a few things and he will teach me things,”
He and the rest of the shop are determined to help him recover, something Hill is looking forward to doing. In his interview with WPTV he said he liked interacting with others who understand his story and want to work with him. What’s more, Brian Delaney, who manages the shop, has been to court dates with Hill.
DeLaney told the Channel 5 News outlet.
“I have a child with a disability myself and what happened to Aaron struck me personally,”
In addition to teaching him the trade, the Treasure Coast motorcycle shop and others raised money to buy a custom ATV for Hill that has the message, #JusticeForAaron placed upon it. This also included two anonymous donors.
While the event is tragic, Hill considers it a blessing in disguise:
“I wouldn’t change what happened to me because then I wouldn’t have this opportunity to meet everyone and talk to everyone,”
The original article by Brian Entin on the TCPalm website can be read here
Contributed by Audrey L. Hollingshead