James Anderson, a plumber by profession, has become an internet sensation for his kind deeds.
One of his acts of kindness that garnered attention was when he repaired a boiler for a 91-year-old woman battling leukemia, and he did it without charging a penny.
Anderson’s altruistic actions are not a one-time event.
He has been providing free services to the elderly for years.
His company, DEPHER (Disabled and Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Response), was established in March 2017.
The idea for DEPHER was born when Anderson witnessed an elderly man being exploited by another repairman.
“It got me thinking about other elderly and vulnerable people — we need to do something more to help the people who need it most,” Anderson shared in a phone interview with CNN.
He recognized that many elderly individuals prefer to maintain their independence and are reluctant to seek help, but there are certain problems, like a broken boiler, that require professional intervention.
Anderson’s act of kindness went viral when Christine Rowlands, the daughter of the elderly woman whose boiler he had repaired, posted the invoice on Facebook.
The bill, which would typically amount to £480, was marked as 0.
Rowlands narrated the incident, “Went to mum’s yesterday and big drama boiler was leaking and I phoned my sister Delta who managed to contact a plumber’ James Anderson.’
He was just dropping someone off near to mum’s and called in to fixed the boiler.
I asked how much for the cost he said he would email me the invoice.”
The invoice was accompanied by a heartwarming message, “No charge for this lady under any circumstances.
We will be available 24 hours to help her and keep her as comfortable as possible.”
Anderson assured the press that the woman would receive “free plumbing for life.”
Anderson also shared a video of the new boiler installation, expressing, “Christine’s mum’s boiler is now being installed for her while she is at the hospital.
She will have a lovely surprise when she returns home.
Full lifetime warranty, Full lifetime servicing and gas safety, Full lifetime home maintenance package, 24-hour callout service to help in any way we can.
To such a lovely lady it has been a humbled experience and she is now family.”
Rowlands and Anderson have maintained their friendship even after her mother’s passing.
Despite assisting thousands of elderly individuals over the years, the pandemic brought its own set of challenges for Anderson.
Funding such charitable work is not easy.
DEPHER primarily relies on donations and crowdfunding.
Anderson has also received £2,000 from the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund, the Queen’s charity.
He needs to cover the cost of supplies, and every hour of labor he gives away is one he can’t charge for.
“As long as I have enough money to fill up the tank in my car, I will be there to try and help the people who need it.”
In November, he told the Lancashire Times, “We gave out £16,000 worth of PPE and almost 7,000 food parcels during the first lockdown.
We also did surprise birthday parties for children, 30 of them.
We were paying bills for people who couldn’t afford to pay and we did about nine free boilers as well as sorting bathrooms for those hit by rogue traders.”
Now, Anderson himself could use some help.
The second-hand shop he was using to fund his free services shut down during the pandemic.
Anderson expressed his anxiety, “I am just hoping, and praying and wishing we do get through. Sometimes I wake up three or four times a night with anxiety because I don’t know what is going to happen.”
Currently, DEPHER is operating at a reduced capacity and has paused free boiler installations. However, Anderson remains hopeful that this is only a temporary setback.
He has turned to crowdfunding sites like GoFundMe to raise more funds to continue his noble work.
Watch this heartwarming story in the video below!
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