It's fair to say that we owe the men and women who serve in the armed forces a huge debt. These people strive to conserve the freedoms we take for granted, sacrificing a huge amount in the process. There are many ways to show gratitude, but one 29-year-old man from Alabama has gone the extra mile to display his appreciation.
Rodney Smith Jr, who hails from Huntsville, Alabama, has travelled to all 50 states in the name of lawn-mowing the grass in the yards of veterans all around the United States.
Smith says that he got the inspiration for the project almost five years ago while pursuing his bachelor's degree. At the time, he was searching for some form of purpose in his life and was inspired by the sight of an elderly man having difficulty mowing his lawn.
He helped the older gentleman, who turned out to be a vet, and decided to launch the 50 Lawn Challenge - to encourage youths to go out and help vulnerable people with their yard work, by mowing 50 lawns.
Commenting on the initiative in a recent interview, Rodney stated: "We have boys and girls taking part in the program. We are trying to encourage boys and girls to get out there and make a difference, one lawn at a time... Currently, we have about 400 kids nationwide that are taking part in the 50 Yard Challenge."
He added: "I thought I would travel to all 50 states to make people more aware of the foundation. I’ve come across so many veterans that are struggling to get their lawn mowed," he said. "If they served for our country, we should step up for them. This is the least we can do. This is the last thing they need to worry about."
Rodney revealed that, since 2015, he's managed to mow over 2,500 lawns, and said he's finally found his purpose. We salute you Rodney! You really are an inspiration.
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