Hero Plumber Charges $0 For 91-Year-Old Woman With Cancer And Other Folks With Disabilities

Sep 01, 2022 by apost team

A single act of kindness could really make a difference. Whether it be holding a door open for a stranger or paying for the person behind you in line at a coffee shop, one small gesture could be life-changing.

A 91-year-old woman dealing with acute leukemia received a delightful surprise from James Anderson, who had been doing repairs for her. After she received a bill with no charge, she and her daughter realized just the amount of kindness Anderson had aimed to spread around.

Anderson has helped thousands of elderly people and people with disabilities throughout Lancashire in the UK. He worked hard to raise funds for his endeavors, with crowdfunding and donations being his primary focus, according to the Daily Mail. Anderson said he got his inspiration after watching an older man being treated poorly by another engineer.

He has done this through his non-profit company, DEPHER – Disabled & Elderly Plumbing and Heating Emergency Repair. Previously, he had owned his own plumbing firm. Anderson gained internet fame for his work after one of his customers posted a picture of the bill he sent to her for $0.

The receipt for the repair had a note attached. It stated there would never be a charge for this lady and that his team was available around the clock, any time, any day, to help keep her comfortable. The reaction he received from the public stunned the repairman.

Even more so, it has proven that there is still so much humanity in the world and that a random act of kindness can truly make a difference in someone’s life.

A Facebook post from September 2019 showed a receipt that a 91-year-old woman was given after calling a repairman to come to fix her leaking boiler. The receipt referred to the repair help as “end of life care.” It also said, “No charges for this lady under any circumstances. We will be available 24 hour to help her and keep her as comfortable as possible.” The total cost was $0.

As a photo of the receipt was put online, Anderson has received plenty of praise for his good deed. “We didn't expect it. It's been everywhere," he told the Daily Mail.

But this isn’t the only time that Anderson has helped someone, and his kind-hearted nature has inspired others. According to BBC News, he started DEPHER back in March 2017 and has been helping people ever since. 

Through the non-profit organization, Anderson has offered free or low-cost plumbing services to those who need assistance through the winter. Although this has resulted in some financial struggles for Anderson, he has stayed persistent with the company. When people ask him why he is willing to go into debt so someone else can be happy and safe, Anderson told the Daily Mail, "It's an ethos that's in my heart and it will always stay there."

Speaking with BBC News, Anderson also said: “There are too many elderly and disabled people suffering in silence. They don’t like asking for help. They don’t want to be a burden. We take away the burden, the stigma.”

Anderson hopes that his non-profit organization will continue to expand. “I’ve got other plumbers … offering help,” he said. “My hope is to get Depher national, in every city and town.”

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What do you think of James Anderson's efforts? Should this be implemented in places all over the world? Let us know your thoughts, and feel free to send this to your family and friends.