CHIPPEWA COUNTY — A 12-year-old boy from Rudyard is spending his summer break giving back to the community by mowing lawns for residents who are elderly or disabled and unable to do it themselves.
Jayzen Rowe, who lives with Dandy-Walker syndrome, ADHD, anxiety and PTSD, has taken on the “50-Yard Challenge,” a national initiative that encourages kids to mow 50 lawns for free for those in need. Once he completes the challenge, Jayzen will receive a lawn mower, leaf blower and weed eater.
With help from his mother, Holly Kinnear, Jayzen found the program on Facebook and signed up right away.
“It’s just that I like to help,” Jayzen said. “It’s entertaining for me to mow the lawn. It’s just like peaceful. You get away from everything and you are just to yourself.”
Kinnear said she’s proud of her son’s drive to help others.
“He doesn’t hear it enough,” she said. “I am very proud of him for the man that he is becoming. He’s going to go far. He really is.”
Jayzen is not accepting payment for his work, though if someone insists on tipping him, he says the money will go toward gas or equipment.
He already has nearly a half-dozen clients signed up in the Rudyard area and hopes to meet his goal before summer ends.