Wish of a Lifetime granted to Mt. Lebanon senior
Chuck Ebaugh, 79, of Mt. Lebanon, at the Soap Box Derby Championships in Akron, Ohio.
Chuck Ebaugh watches the Soap Box Derby Championships in Akron, Ohio.
Chuck Ebaugh, 79, of Mt. Lebanon, is a resilient man with a positive outlook on life. Ebaugh spent his teenage days building soap box cars to race in derbies, although he never made it to the championships. His Wish of a Lifetime was to attend the Soap Box Derby Championships for the first time.
Wish of a Lifetime is an organization that grants wishes to senior citizens, encouraging them to pursue their passions and eliminate feelings of isolation.
Growing up, Ebaugh was the youngest and the “runt” of his class. Because of his small size, he was discouraged from joining sports, thus becoming interested in soap box racing. He enjoyed working with his hands and building his own derby car. When he was younger, he also enjoyed volunteering at a school for the blind. He helped the students write letters and took them on errands, such as grocery shopping and getting hair cuts.
In 2012, Ebaugh had a fall that resulted in surgery and several days of hospitalization. After the operation, Ebaugh began using a prosthetic leg to replace his lost limb and underwent a year of rehabilitation. After a lot of hard work, he learned how to walk on his own and live independently again. Now, in the Brookdale senior living community (formerly the Devonshire of Mt. Lebanon), he is very involved and helpful to his neighbors. He is the president of the Resident Council, and said that he pays special attention to residents that need extra care because he can empathize with them.
Thanks to Wish of a Lifetime and Brookdale, on July 23, Ebaugh travelled to Akron, Ohio, for the Soap Box Derby Championships. He was thrilled to finally fulfill his childhood dream and relive his cherished memories.