‘Shane & Pepper’: 13-year-old entrepreneur from Lansdale breaking disability stigmas with candle company

“The reason I started this company is to bring kindness, love and disability awareness to the world,” said Shane Popiny.

LANSDALE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — A 13-year-old entrepreneur from Lansdale, Montgomery County is breaking the stigma of special needs children.

Shane Popiny survived a pediatric stroke and is now living with cerebral palsy.

His service dog is called Pepper.

Together they run a charitable candle company called Shane & Pepper.

“At the age of 13 I am fortunate to have my company. We want to spread that love around the world,” says Popiny.

“Shane needs a service dog for mobility,” says the boy’s mother, Marie. “We had to raise $17,000 to get pepper for Shane, and that’s when Shane got the idea to make and sell candles.”

At the age of 3, the teenager was also diagnosed with autism.

He works with five different non-profit organizations such as the Eagles Autism Foundation to create custom candles.

“When this candle is sold, a portion of the proceeds goes back to it,” explains Popiny. “The reason I started this company is to bring kindness, love and disability awareness to the world.

The candles are soy based and non-toxic.

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