Seth Phillips

            My VIP for this week is Seth Phillips, a sixteen-year-old young man who saw someone in need and helped. Tornado sirens sounded in St. John, Missouri, on May 21. Gregory Beck and other residents were shopping at a local Schnucks and knew that they needed to get home as soon as possible. 

            Most people got into their cars, but Beck was in his wheelchair. In the past year he lost both of his legs from complications with diabetes, and he is legally blind. Therefore, he cannot drive a car and goes where he needs to go in his wheelchair. As he was pushing himself in his wheelchair, people in their cars were honking their car horns at him, yelling ignorant things at him, and even cussing him.

            Phillips was with his mother, Amber Gilleylen, in the store also. As they headed home they saw Beck struggling to push himself along the road. Seth later told a reporter, “He was just all by himself and alone and everybody was driving by, cussing at him and honking at him and just yelling ignorant things towards him and that wasn’t right.”

            Phillips saw what was happening and asked his mother if he could get out to help Beck. His mother said that “she was more than happy to pull over to let Seth help him. I actually have a grandfather who is a double amputee and I know the struggle that comes with that.” He jumped out of the car and pushed Beck about a quarter of a mile and up a hill to his home. He did this service because he was worried that Beck would not make it home before the storm hit.

            Gilleylen is, of course, proud of her son. She followed close behind him as he pushed Beck in the wheelchair. She filmed her son performing his heroic act of service and posted it to Facebook with this message: “He is truly my pride and joy. I’m proud of you Seth Robert Phillips for choosing to be a good human.” The post caught the attention of the media who interviewed both of them.

            When Phillips got back into the car, he said to his mother: “We live in a world where people would rather fly by and honk at a disabled person than to lend a hand.” Gilleylen hopes that other teenagers will the news of Phillips’ service and follow his example. She called serving others “the cool thing to do … to help other people who need it.”

            Other people saw the news and praising Phillips for doing the kind act. Even politicians were taking note. However, Phillips is not done yet. He calls Beck his friend and is working with his mother to launch a fundraiser to help raise enough funds for Beck get an electric wheelchair.