The army veteran had a medical exemption but that didn’t stop a man from verbally attacking him outside an Echuca supermarket recently.
“He came up to me at Safeway Square and said, ‘why aren’t you wearing a f***ing mask?” Jan said.
“I told him I had a medical exemption, but he didn’t care. He just kept going.
“I ended up going home without doing my shopping. I was that depressed I didn’t get out of bed for three days. I shouldn’t have to cop people’s abuse and judgment.”
That’s why the medical exception badges Trophyman’s Phil Masters is offering for free to people with a valid reason has been a lifesaver for Jan.
“I got one of Phil’s badges last week and went up to three stores in Echuca and the Woolworths petrol station and I got asked twice why I wasn't wearing a face covering and once the staff saw my new medical exception badge they were really good about it and I continued my shopping,” he said.
“So the badge really worked and it made my day so much easier compared to the abuse I receive.”
The 55-year-old father of two suffers from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as anxiety, depression and PTSD from his time in the military.
“I find it difficult to breathe at times and this is made worse by my psychological issues,” he said.
“I tried to use a mask at first but I just couldn’t breathe. It’s hard enough to breathe without the stress and anxiety of COVID.”
Jan read about Phil’s generous offer in the Riverine Herald after an elderly man was physically and verbally abused at Coles Echuca last weekend.
“I was disgusted when I heard about this,” Jan said.
“This poor bloke did not deserve this.
“Members of the public need to be aware that people have conditions that can’t be seen and may be suffering from something you don’t know about.
“People need to stop judging others and asking why they aren’t wearing masks. It’s none of their business.”
Jan praised Phil’s initiative and urged others who had a medical exemption to grab a badge.
“It’s put my mind at ease when I go down the street now. I don’t want to go through what I did again and I don’t want anyone else too either,” Jan said.
“I can’t thank Phil and his team enough for their help and kind-hearted gesture for our community.”
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