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Carolina Has Heart: Son carries on father's legacy by helping families of fallen heroes

"The legacy he left behind is so big," said Jack Davis said, who lost his dad when he was 14-years-old.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A young man, carrying on his father's legacy, is giving back to our community on a mission to help other families of fallen heroes. 

"My dad, he was my best friend," said Jack Davis 

He was only 14-years-old when he lost his dad.

"The legacy he left behind is so big," Davis said.

He was a former sniper on the swat team and a federal investigator in Charlotte.

"He was officer of the year four years in a row," Davis said.

But Andrew Davis' life came to a screeching halt in 2014.

"He was in a car accident and paralyzed on his left leg from his knee down," Davis said.

Andrew Davids died a month later.

"He had severe head injuries a lot worse than we thought," Davis said. "He committed suicide. Knowing my dad and if you knew him he'd be the last person in the world to do that."

"So what was that like as a 14-year-old?" asked NBC Charlotte's Sarah French.

"I remember every moment of that day. My mom coming to tell me with my youth pastor," said Davis. "I was the only one in the house with my mom. At that point, I knew that I kinda had to be her rock 'cause I knew what she was going through."

Davis knew he always wanted to carry on his father's legacy.

"I always say that I learned in 14 years from him what most men don't learn in their entire life," said Davis.

So this past year, Davis started a nonprofit named after his father, the Andrew Davis Foundation.

"Why was that important to you, to start a foundation in your dad's name?" asked French.

"I know he's not here now, but I'm going to carry out his legacy because he's a special type of person. Our mission is to comfort families of fallen heroes and empower those with disabilities," said Davis.

"The day he passed away, when he was driving me to school, he said if I sat on a rocking chair for the rest of my life, he couldn't be more proud of me," he added.

And with those final words, Davis continues to try to make his father proud.

"Whoever he met he impacted in some special way," said Davis.

"Our motto is living for others as selfless as a person as he was no matter who you are or what your calling is at the end of the day our purpose in life is to live for others," Davis added.

The Andrew Davis Foundation is having an "Ice Up Cancer" event on Saturday at Jerry Richardson Stadium from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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