After losing his leg, Prince George man finds purpose by helping neighbours in need

For Clint Bleich, a long-time resident of the Hart neighbourhood on the northern edge of Prince George, B.C., the past few years have been marked by major health struggles. Diabetes-related nerve damage cost him his toes in 2021 and ultimately led to the amputation of his lower leg this September.

But instead of withdrawing, Bleich says the challenges pushed him toward something he never expected: devoting himself to helping others.

“When things got really tough, I realized who my real friends were,” he said. “Strangers stepped up for me, and that made me want to give back.”

Bleich teamed up with local resident Erin Ziemer in 2023 after she posted online seeking help to rebuild wooden footbridges at a seniors’ home. They organized a bottle drive, raised more than they needed, and decided to use the extra funds to launch a neighbourhood support group now known as Community Strong Hart Highway.

What started as a small idea has since grown into a lifeline for many residents. The volunteer-run group helps with practical needs such as shovelling driveways, chopping wood, changing car batteries, picking up groceries, assembling food hampers and delivering hot meals. When volunteers aren’t available, the group raises funds to pay someone who needs the work.

“I have a disability, and so does one of our other admins,” Ziemer said. “We’re disabled people helping people. It’s incredibly rewarding — it gives us purpose.”

When Bleich was in hospital recovering from his amputation earlier this year, Ziemer, her husband and other volunteers built him a new deck and wheelchair ramp so he could safely return home.

Bleich says the support he’s received has changed him profoundly.

“I never really cared about other people,” he admitted. Growing up, he says, he often got into fights and took pride in making others cry. “I still enjoy seeing people cry — but now it’s tears of joy.”

He recalls an elderly woman overwhelmed with relief when he replaced her dead car battery.

“She was crying so hard because one more stressful thing was off her plate,” he said. “I know what it’s like to be at rock bottom, so helping someone like that means everything.”

Although the group is led by five core volunteers, Ziemer says it has become a space where neighbours freely help one another, often without being asked.

“The Hart is unbelievably close-knit,” she said. “People here are so willing to step up for others.”

Bleich hopes the support network continues to grow — and that others find the same purpose he has discovered by giving back.