AHOSKIE – Over the course of his career, the Rev. Paul Ange has opened up his huge heart and helped those in need.

Whether it was one of his parishioners at Liberty Free Will Baptist Church of Ahoskie, one of his players during his basketball coaching career at Bethel Assembly Christian Academy in Askewville, or a total stranger who was lost and couldn’t find his way, Rev. Ange served as the proverbial shepherd protecting his flock.

Now the tables have turned and Rev. Ange – the father of three adult children and the grandfather of six who adore their “Papa” – needs the public’s help.

Ange suffers from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and a spinal cord injury. He was diagnosed with MS in 2004. That disease attacks the central nervous system, leading to the disruption of information the brain sends to the body.

Even though Rev. Ange is confined to a wheelchair, he remains active, according to his daughter, Rachel Lassiter.

“He still wants to help people….it’s in his blood and in the Bible to do so,” she said. “He’s still able to get around and uses a mount on the back of his pick-up truck to secure the wheelchair. That makes it tough on him to have to get out of the truck and shuffle his feet slowly to back of the truck to retrieve that wheelchair every time he needs it. As a pastor he visits people in their homes and also in the hospital. He needs his wheelchair to make these visits.”

Lassiter said her father has been entered into a national contest where the winner will be awarded a wheelchair assessable van.

“All you have to do is log onto the website and you can vote for dad each and every day from now until May 31,” Lassiter noted. “Please help him out. As a pastor, husband, father and grandfather, he helps people everyday and we want to try to help him. Every vote helps!”

Lassiter said her dad has suffered many falls and tumbles which only add to the pain already caused by the symptoms of MS.

“Through all of his struggles he has never lost his faith nor his sense of humor,” the post reads on Ange’s page on the website (which was nearing 3,000 votes as of May 12). “No one can poke more fun or tell a corny joke as well as our Papa. He needs his trusty wheelchair to do his work as a pastor and to get out and enjoy life. Papa helps others everyday and now we would like to try and help him by winning a mobility van! So, come on and vote for our Papa! We know you can do it!!”

Those wishing to help Ange in his quest to win the contest, log onto http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/paul-ange-ahoskie-nc/

There is no cost or fee to sign-up and vote on that website.