Strategic Marketing & Charleston PR is providing pro bono services to help Andi Mills find her carpool so that she can go back to school. Please share her story and help her find a ride. The Greenwood Index Journal wrote up her story and while Andi has had some good comments, she still does not have a ride.

Loosing sight no deterrent to living life

Former truckdriver, avid horsewoman Andi Mills only ‘sees’ the positive side of life as she heads back to school

Charleston, SC, December 3, 2009—“I don’t beat on closed doors,” says Honea Path resident Andi Mills. “I find the open ones and go through them.” Mills, who lost her sight in 2008 as a result of congenital factors, has every right to feel bummed about life. But she chooses to continue to live positively, recognizing the abilities she has. Part of her plan for her new life includes attending Lander University to earn a degree; that is if she can find a daily carpool to Greenwood. Mills said, “When I found out that I would be blind and there was nothing I could do about it, I decided to be the best, most productive blind person I could be. Going back to school is a way for me to be productive and help others.”

Greenwood's Index-Journal wrote this story about Andi.

Mills who is no stranger to accomplishing her goals and who in 2007 rode her horse a total of 1,528 miles to advance “Stroke Awareness and The Value of Early Detection of Strokes,” is determined to keep on living. “I’m going to be the best blind person I can be.”

She spent the first five months of 2009 at the South Carolina Commission for Blind learning the adaptive techniques and technologies she needs to live without sight. “My computer talks to me; I have devices that tell me when a cup is full and a one foot by one foot kitchen timer. My washer and dryer have Braille on them and now I have Mr. Tibbs.” Mr. Tibbs is her yellow Labrador Retriever guide dog who in Mills’ words, “gave me back my freedom and independence.” Mills spent one month earlier this year at Guide Dogs of America in Sylmar, California learning to work with Mr. Tibbs.

With Mr. Tibbs, her training and adaptive tools, Andi is now ready to earn her degree in English. The University will set up a place for her to study between classes, allowing her to have a comfortable place to study between classes.  But she needs to get back and forth daily to Lander. Andi is hoping to meet someone from Anderson or Honea Path who commutes daily to Greenwood and who will allow her (and Mr. Tibbs)  to carpool with them.

Mills reached out to Nelson Ohl of CarolinaCommuter.com who is committed to helping her find transportation.  Referring to Mill’s inquiry received through CarolinaCommuter.com., Ohl says, “Over the last year I’ve been wrapped up in the obvious reasons for carpooling, environment, congestion, etc.; and then along comes a sincere call to share a ride that, well, hit me like a freight train.” Ohl is convinced that someone is “out there” who will help Mills by forming a carpool that includes her.  Mills’ story has been made public through CarolinaCommuter.com’s blog (http://carolinacommuter.blogspot.com/2009/09) and by his personal e-mail campaign to friends and now he’s taking the call to the public media.

People who would like to assist Mills can reach Ohl at nohl@carolinacommuter.com or by phone at 843-870-0821.

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