Special ceremony held in Clovis to honor Valley heroes

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- On Wednesday Paul Geiger was one of two dozen to be honored by Fresno and Madera County law enforcement for acts of bravery and kindness.

"We're all put on this earth to do something, and my calling was to help people," said Geiger.

Geiger does prosthetics by day-- as he puts it he "makes arms and legs" for a living. So when he heard Jason Collins was having trouble coming up with the necessary funds for a prosthetic leg following a near fatal motorcycle accident-- Paul stepped up with a new custom leg free of charge.

"I enjoy what I do, and to see somebody in a bed, in a wheelchair, and watch him stand for the first time-- it's emotional, it gets to you."

Just as Geiger provided support during Collins' rehabilitation process, Collins was there Wednesday when Geiger was presented with a citizen award.

"They don't need any community recognition, they do it because they like to do it," said Collins.

Collins is thriving once again-- Geiger's act of kindness has helped Collins get back to work and has forged a special bond the two men now share.

"It's just like talking to a family member-- it's just casual conversation. Even when we go to his office it's just casual conversation, it's not serious business what's going on with the leg. It's casual conversation."

"Just seemed like he was getting a bad deal after bad deal, and to pick a guy up it's not that hard to do. If you just pick somebody up along the road when they're down. Look at Jason today, he's doing great," said Geiger.

All thanks to an act of kindness that has already changed both men's lives forever.