Andreas Bernt and his family live in South Tampa. Mr. Bernt is a U.S. Air Force veteran where he served as Firefighter and Emergency Rescue Responder. In 2005, he contracted cancer which he survived but not without lasting symptoms.   Mr. Bernt's spine was seriously weakened and he is no longer able to get around without the use of a wheelchair.

Mr. Bernt is no complainer and does more than many able bodied people do. On Friday, December 16, 2011, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave him one the best presents he has ever recieved. They donated $40,000 to get the Bernts' home remodeled to meet ADA standards. In the early part of next year, due to the generosity of the Buccaneer organization along with Roger Schatzel of Top Dog Contracting, Joyce Knarr of Diversified Design Consultants and Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, Mr. Bernt will be able to get around his home without help from anyone else.

Mr. Bernt has been a long time advocate for disabled veterans and has been a mentor and example to his fellow veterans and others with spinal injury disabilities.  On a personal level, he is active with and a participant in wheel chair sport activities to include the Tampa Bay Strong Dogs Softball Team, the National Wheel Chair Games as a weight lifter, discus thrower, basketball and softball player, and has just competed in the National Wheel Chair Bowling Tournament.  Mr. Bernt is an inspiration to all those who know him and what can be accomplished in the face of horrific disabilities.