Shoreline company builds a ramp for three-year-old Mountlake Terrace toddler

Elsa's family couldn't lift her power chair over the steps
Photo courtesy Irons Brothers

Ramp captain Joseph Irons, President of Irons Brothers Construction in Shoreline and this year’s Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBA) President, and his team of staff and volunteers, designed and constructed a free wheelchair access ramp for Elsa Wall of Mountlake Terrace during the annual Rampathon event on May 21.

Elsa, who is 3, has been diagnosed with spastic Cerebral Palsy quadriplegia. She has an electric power chair, but up until now, has only used it on rare occasions as her parents have to lift the very heavy equipment over the doorway and stairs.

Elsa’s father, Rich Wall, a fellow MBA member, lacked financial resources due the financial strain of Elsa’s medical expenses and therapy. Therefore, to fund the ramp, the MBA’s Rampathon program and its sponsors volunteered their time and materials to build the new home’s walkway and wheel chair access.''

Elsa puts her hand prints in the drying concrete.
Photo courtesy Irons Brothers

Elsa requires full-time care and this is performed by her mother, Bevan, who stays at home with her, while father Rich is the operations manager for a painting company. Elsa loves to listen to music and watch sports with her family. She also can be found smiling when her Grandmother, Janice dances for her!

“Elsa is getting heavier to carry in and out of the house from the car as she’s getting older, “says Bevan. With the new concrete accessible wheel-chair ramp, the family and Elsa are looking forward to an improved way of life.

This year’s Rampathon project, built of easy to maintain and eye-pleasing concrete, is one small way that these local builders and volunteers from Irons Brothers Construction have helped this family to improve their daily lives. 

Volunteer team from Irons Brothers
Photo courtesy Irons Brothers

The dozen volunteers, included Irons Brothers Construction staff, colleagues, friends, family, along with the owners of Foundations, Etc. and Greenworks Concrete.

This year marks the 23rd year of Rampathon – providing over 350-wheelchair access ramps, totaling more than 1.7 million dollars of in-kind contributions since 1993. This year, Irons Brothers Construction, based in Shoreline, participated in its 12th year with Rampathon. Thanks to the Master Builders Association and the generous donors, the ramp was built at no cost to the recipient.

Irons Brothers Construction is celebrating 17 years of business in 2016 has a Design + Build Center showroom located at 1510 NE 170th St, Shoreline 98155.