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The SCOOTER Store Donates Power Chairs to Two Army Veterans with Limited Mobility
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Edison, N.J. – These days, scores of U.S. soldiers return from Iraq with debilitating injuries. But there are many more veterans still struggling with disabilities resulting from decades-old stints in active duty.
Emil Priliszh is an 80-year-old Army veteran. He currently resides at New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Edison N.J. and enjoys partaking in the musical and entertainment activities held there. Mr. Priliszh struggles to navigate the rather large facility in his manual wheelchair and looks forward to a day when getting around is easier.
Everett Erickson is an 84-year-old World War II veteran. He, too, resides at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home and is an extremely active participant in the facility's musical activities and Bingo games. He also finds pushing a manual wheelchair around a major challenge.
In recognition of the veteran servicemen's years of military service, The SCOOTER Store presented the two veterans with free power wheelchairs through its Gift of Mobility program. Steve Graham and Greg Daniels, account managers at The SCOOTER Store, made the deliveries today at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home.
The SCOOTER Store is working in conjunction with Operation Jersey Cares, a nonprofit based in Raritan, N.J., which is dedicated to offering support to Marines and veterans wounded in combat. John Dorell, a commanding officer with Operation Jersey Cares, connected The SCOOTER Store with the veterans. He is pleased that their past military service is being acknowledged with this gift so many years later.
"They are forgotten and swept under the rug. We don't know why that's the case, but we are trying to do something about it," says Dorell.
Doug Harrison, CEO and Founder of The SCOOTER Store, feels "honored" to be able to donate power scooters to the two veteran servicemen. "I hope this mobility equipment will help Mr. Erickson and Mr. Priliszh improve their quality of life," he said. "Everyone at the SCOOTER Store is proud that we can help these war veterans who sacrificed so much for our country."
Mr. Harrison and his wife, Susanna, started the Gift of Mobility program in December 2002 to help people like Mr. Erickson and Mr. Priliszh improve their quality of life by recovering their independence and mobility. Since then, the outreach program has worked with organizations around the world to donate power wheelchairs, scooters and manual wheelchairs valued at more than $200,000 a year to community service organizations, enabling them to provide freedom and independence to individuals with limited mobility.
About The SCOOTER Store
Since 1991, The SCOOTER Store has helped provide freedom and independence to more than 300,000 people with limited mobility. The SCOOTER Store offers a full line of durable medical equipment, including power wheelchairs and scooters, lifts, ramps and accessories in 47 states. The SCOOTER Store has worked with more than 100,000 physicians, providing expertise and quality service to their patients, and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care.
