Woman receives generous gift from local organization

DAVIE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A South Florida woman got a generous gift after an attacker opened fire and her paralyzed.

"I'm just so grateful for DGF to provide a new wheelchair for me, which I desperately need," said Christine Kent.

Christine Kent got a much-needed donation. The Darrell Gwynn Foundation presented her with a $17,000 custom wheelchair in Davie. "My back hurts really bad," said Kent, "and it's just so nice to be able to have a new wheelchair to provide me with the support that I need for my disability."

Kent was left paralyzed after she was attacked at home five years ago.

A stalker, Allan Sinclair, shot her as she tried to run away from him, shattering her spine. Then, he ran her over with an SUV in her driveway.

Sinclair was sentenced to life in prison in October of 2009.

Kent, who used to model for work, and ski for fun was sentenced to a wheelchair. "Once we got her story, it kinda resonated with us," said Director of Marketing for DGF Ryan Rogers. "She does a lot of work for Women in Distress."

Her disability hasn't stopped her. Instead, it has motivated her to help women who have suffered at the hands of an attacker.

Kent, now a community activist and volunteer with Women in Distress, The Center for Independent Living of Broward, and the Oakland Park Police Department. "We want to get kids back in school with the power of a wheelchair and adults involved in the community," said Rogers. "I know she's gonna take this gift of mobility and use it to help the community be a better place by helping women who have gone through some of the things she's gone through and just have a better life."

Her old wheelchair, which was provided by health insurance doesn't meet her health needs and she said it has caused her a lot of pain.

She's not eligible for a new one for several more years.

The generous donation will ease her pain and give her the gift of mobility to continue helping others. "It restores my faith in humanity to know that a foundation like DGF exists to help people like myself that don't have the means to get a new wheelchair," said Kent.

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