Two Merrill women are entered in the National Mobility Awareness Month Local Heroes contest. Renee Sollars and Amber Schmidt have been nominated for the contest with a grand prize of a $40,000 wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
The contest is sponsored by the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding mobility options for people with disabilities.
Renee and Amber are both driving older vans that need frequent repairs to continue carrying them and their wheelchairs. Amber, who has muscular dystrophy, uses her van to get back and forth to college classes. Renee, who was nominated by her child, is known to go out of her way to help other people, according to the online nomination.
The winner will be selected partially on the number of votes they receive in the online voting, which closes May 10. Anyone can vote by visiting www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/localheroes.