Christian County Students Modify Car For Special Needs Child

special
From Left: Bethany Surrett, Ginny Surrett, Stephanie Harton, Ray Chase, Michael Olgesby, and David Lewis

A four-year-old from Christian County now has a chance to play like other children after the Gateway Academy to Innovation and Technology modified a battery operated ride-on car for her. Ginny Surrett has Trisomy 12p, an extremely rare chromosomal disorder with only about 40 cases worldwide.

Due to the disease, Surrett is not able to physically play like other 4-year-olds, but thanks to the Pride Ride Scholars at Gateway, she can now drive a toy car like the others. Pride Ride Scholars are a collaboration of Gateway’s Manufacturing, Electricity, Marketing and Engineering programs as well as various community partners.

Stephanie Harton, a physical therapist for Christian County Public Schools, approached Alicia Lancaster, the assistant principal at Gateway with the idea after seeing a similar project online. The project received funding through Pennyrile Rural Electric as well as her parents, Stephen and Janice Stamper. Surrett’s mother Bethany, is a teacher at Indian Hills Elementary.