The SCOOTER Store Surprises 9/11 First Responder & Merrick Firefighter With Power Chair

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, N.Y., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sept. 11, 2001, thousands of firefighters, police officers and other rescue workers came together to save as many lives as possible in New York City. Merrick firefighter Brian McCauley was one of those 9/11 first responders. Now he is fighting to save his own life.

Only in his late 30s, McCauley was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. He has undergone surgery and extensive chemotherapy treatments, leaving him confined to a wheelchair and needing to carry oxygen. His family recently remodeled their bathroom to be handicap-accessible and purchased a lift so he could go upstairs. The FealGood Foundation, a nonprofit organization designed to educate the public about the catastrophic health effects on 9/11 first responders and provide assistance to relieve these great heroes of their financial burdens, held a fundraiser on Saturday at the Merrick Fire Department to help the family complete additional renovations and give this 9/11 responder his dignity back.

At the benefit on Saturday evening, The SCOOTER Store and the FealGood Foundation surprised McCauley at the North Merrick Fire Department with a Jazzy Select GT power chair. On hand from The SCOOTER Store's Levittown operations were Distribution Center Manager Anthony Pepe; Mobility & Service Specialists George Santos, Carl Frey, and Peter Piekarski; Field Support Specialist Nicole Sheets; and Healthcare Relations Consultant Victoria Wells to make the presentation. The power chair was donated under The SCOOTER Store's "Gift of Mobility" program, which provides mobility equipment and assistance to those who do not have the resources or insurance to obtain power wheelchairs and scooters.

"On behalf of 9/11 hero Brian McCauley, the 9/11 responder community, and the FealGood Foundation, I wish to thank everyone at The SCOOTER Store again for their continuous support of yesterday's heroes," said John Feal, founder of the FealGood Foundation. "Your actions should be embraced and emulated by all. The SCOOTER Store has shown in the past, the current and future to be a leader in the arena of philanthropy. You have set the bar high for others to follow, and your compassion has humbled all of us trying to aid and assist 9/11 heroes."

The power chair will help McCauley regain his freedom and independence. He can spend more time with his children. He can also once again move around the firehouse and enjoy the camaraderie of his fellow firefighters.

"When the FealGood Foundation contacted us about another 9/11 responder who needed mobility assistance, we had only one comment: Of course!" said Doug Harrison, Founder, President and CEO of The SCOOTER Store. "We started the Gift of Mobility program because we understand that mobility, and the ensuing independence, is truly a gift. We are so glad to give independence back to a true hero like Brian, one who served our nation in the darkest of times."

Harrison and his wife, Susanna, started the Gift of Mobility program in December 2002 to help people like Brian McCauley improve their quality of life by assisting in achieving their independence and mobility. Since then, the outreach program has worked with nonprofit groups around the country to donate power wheelchairs, scooters and manual wheelchairs, valued at more than $350,000 a year to individuals and community service organizations, enabling them to provide freedom and independence to people with limited mobility.

About The SCOOTER Store
Since 1991, The SCOOTER Store has helped provide freedom and independence to more people with limited mobility than any other company in the nation. Forty percent employee-owned, the company primarily offers power mobility equipment, including power wheelchairs, scooters, lifts, ramps, and accessories, in 48 states and Puerto Rico. The SCOOTER Store currently holds more than 30 percent of the current U.S. market in the power mobility industry and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care. The goal of The SCOOTER Store is to create an opportunity for every American senior to live their entire life safely and confidently at home.