Left a paraplegic by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan two years ago, retired Marine Jack Pierce vows not to let his disability leave him in life’s slow lane.

CAPTION

Courtesy of Jack Pierce

Pierce applies that attitude to pretty much everything, including. right now, his summer vacation.

Pierce plans to drive his wife and two-year-old son a tour of national parks and monuments in their 2012 Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup, towing a fifth-wheel RV trailer specially outfitted for his needs. And tethered to the trailer will be a three-wheel motorcycle that lets him drive in his wheelchair.

“You can get out on the road and feel the wind in your hair,” says Pierce, 38, of Belton, Texas. “You’re not stuck in your house. You can get out in your RV and take your medical supplies with you.”

Wounded vets such as Pierce are a challenge for the industry that converts vehicles to accommodate people in wheelchairs or with other disabilities. After seeing sales grow for ramp-outfitted minivans to serve an aging population, converters now are having to think young.

They are using innovation and design savvy to create vehicles for a new group of customers, veterans, mostly men in their 20s and 30s, determined to live life as much as they can without concession to their disability — including in their choice of vehicles.

“Independence is the key, being able to function as normally as possible,” says Dave Hubbard, CEO of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association trade group.

Younger buyers “are looking for alternatives,” he says, driven in large part by a desire not to be seen as disabled. They want vehicles that look like those typically driven by others their age, without obvious signs of modification to handle disabilities.

To meet those demands, a Phoenix-based minivan outfitter, for instance, has dressed up a ramp-equipped Honda Odyssey with smoked glass, custom wheels and a body kit to make it look hipper, more urban and more like a sport utility vehicle.

The disabled transportation industry also is looking beyond vans and minivans for new ways to modify any vet’s vehicle of choice with equipment needed for wheelchairs.

“The industry has been slow to respond, to tell you the truth,” says Bill Lawson of Woodward, Okla., president of Paralyzed Veterans of America. “This stuff should have been done years ago.”

Vets who like pickup trucks now can get a system with a lift chair to get them into the cab and a crane that stows their wheelchair in truck’s bed. One company even modifies a pickup with a sliding driver door and lift that lets quadriplegics drive in their wheelchairs, rather than having to shift into a truck seat.

There even are modified motorcycles:

To read the full article from USA Today Click Here

Discover the VMI northstar Advantage in-floor rampadvantages

• Greater safety in the event of a collision

• Reduced conversion wear

• No interference with factory seats or controls

Visit your the Mobility Supercenter and you could win a new iPad.

Vote for Jason Click Here

VmI 25th anniversary van

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Feb. 23, 2012 – Vantage Mobility International (VMI), a leader in the manufacture and distribution of wheelchair accessible full-size and minivan conversions unveiled its 25th Anniversary Limited Edition Honda Odyssey with Northstar conversion during the 2012 NMEDA Conference. The van, which is one of only twenty-five that can be special ordered, features distinctive interior and exterior styling cues that create a truly elegant package for the VMI Honda Odyssey with Northstar conversion.

“Twenty-five years of helping the physically challenged regain their independence is a significant milestone in our company’s history,” said Doug Eaton, president of VMI. “We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than with a special edition Honda Odyssey. This 25th Anniversary van, which represents the best of VMI’s engineering, design and safety, is loaded with special upgrades that make it a real standout. And to add to the excitement, we’re giving the first vehicle away as a part of NMEDA’s online contest. We think it’s a great way to thank our customers for their loyalty to VMI over the years.”

Click here to read the full article 25th Anniversary Van

Medical Leadership Symposium

Mobility Supercenter is proud to be one of the corporate supporters of an exciting event coming up on May 4th from 11:00am to 5:00pm at the Richmond Outreach Center. The event titled Learn to Lead “A Journey into Medical Leadership” is a Medical Leadership Symposium designed to introduce effective leadership skills, tips and techniques; taught by bestselling author and nationally recognized Leadership coach Doug Moran.  Throughout the day, in addition to his teaching, Mr. Moran will lead two “panel discussions” consisting of influential leaders in the medical community who’ll also be sharing their knowledge and philosophies.

The seminar is based on Mr. Moran’s newly released book based on the poem “IF” by Rudyard Kipling. The title of the book is “If You Will Lead” and in addition to being listed on two best-seller’s lists, Bloomberg placed atop of their business & leadership category.

“Learn to Lead” will challenge, excite and equip those interested in developing or enhancing their leadership skills in hopes of becoming “change agents” within the medical community and beyond. Anyone can attend and most, if not all of the physicians, administrators, executives, case managers, nurses, social workers and therapists within a 100 mile radius of Richmond will be invited. For those that apply, 5 hours of Continuing Medicinal Education credits will be provided by The University of Virginia Department of Continuing Medical Education.

The cost is $75 and proceeds from the event will be split between two fantastic non-profits: The Love of Jesus Health Clinic (Commonwealth Clinic), Chesterfield County’s only free clinic) and Elijah House Academy (private Christian school for inner city youth).

In addition to Mobility Supercenter providing corporate support, the following companies will be supporting this event as well: Bon Secours, West Home Health, Beaufont Health & Rehab – MFA and Northwestern Mutual.

For additional information please call 804-231-7774 or email to ddise@mobilityva.com

Medical Seminar Blog

When you hear something has a big turnout, it usually goes in one ear and out the other and in most cases, the turnout isn’t exactly what was reported. This is NOT the case as it relates to the Ukrops 10K this past Saturday. What an amazing sight to see the 40,000 plus participants of all ages running, jogging and walking by; especially when everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Last Saturday, March 31st, several people from our staff at Mobility Supercenter cheered on the “heroes” that set out to tackle the10K ( 6.2 mile) course. In addition to wanting to support the participants, there was another purpose for our support. We, along with 5 other local companies got together to help bring exposure to what we all feel is a fantastic organization that provides information, education and support for anyone with COPD, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Asthma or any other “breathing” related illness or disease. The support group hosted by CJW – HCA is called “Breath Matters” and they meet the second Monday of every month at 1:30pm at CJW in Richmond, VA. www.breathmatters.org <http://www.breathmatters.org>

As you’ll see in the photo, a Breath Matters T-shirt was created by the 6 sponsors listed on the back, in order to bring awareness to the “support group” and also to show distinction between the Breath Matters crowd and the others. The interest in showing distinction wasn’t to be unsocial, it was in hopes of Breath Matters trying to win or place in the Hirschler Fliesher  “Spirit Award”. With the help of some of the staff members of the sponsoring companies, it looks like they / we were in the running for sure. In addition to Mobility, the companies that stepped up to assist Breath matters were Thomas Marketing, West Home Health, The Laurels of Bon Air, American Senior Care and If You Will Lead (best selling leadership book).

The race was fantastic for a number of reasons, one of which was the incredible organization, structure, promotional efforts and staffing supplied by Richmond Sports Backers. Without the help from them and one of their fantastic staff, Ray Patterson, the event would not have been as successful nor would Breath Matters had such a wonderful day. Due to the breathing challenges that the majority of the group suffers with, Sports Backers not only made arrangements to provide them with a great spot on the course, they also secured parking within a “ half a block” in the parking lot of Immanuel Baptist Church (how’s that for community service?). With an event this big and this organized, it’s impossible to thank everyone but we certainly would like to try…..

THANK YOU!!!

Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen is the oldest and largest law firm in Virginia limiting its practice exclusively to personal injury. Founded in 1910, the firm currently has 23 trial lawyers who handle all types of personal injury claims including wrongful death, motor vehicle and tractor trailer collisions, brain injury, spinal injury, medical malpractice and products liability.  The Allen Law Firm has eight offices located throughout Virginia, including Richmond, Charlottesville, Chesterfield, Mechanicsville, Petersburg, Fredericksburg, Garrisonville, and Short Pump.

Boat Raffle to Benefit the Mid-Atlantic PVA

Fishing Boat Raffle-Tickets go on sale March 23, 2012

To benefit the Virginia Mid-Atlantic Paralyzed Veterans of America

www.pvamidatlantic.org

Purchase a $50 raffle ticket for your chance to win a Tracker Boat & Trailer Combo.

Actual Boat and trailer are located in the Mobility Supercenter Showroom

At 7450 Midlothian Turnpike, North Chesterfield, VA 23225.

Only 125 tickets will be sold.

Drawing April 30th, 2012 at 2pm at the Mobility Supercenter.

All taxes are the responsibility of the winner!

Tracker Boat & Trailer combo value  $4,458.00

Electric Motor                                            $475.00
Lowrance Fish finder X 4                            $79.99
Low back Seats  $59.99 each x 2               $119.98
Seat Base 16.99 each x 2                              $33.98

Total Estimated Retail Value                   $5,166.95

Thank You Bass Pro Shops for donating the Lowrance Fish Finder, Low back seats and Seat Base.

The VA Victory Games, started as the Rainbow Olympic Games, which was first organized in 1981 in Richmond, Virginia by a group of physical and recreational therapists. The idea was and still is to give young people with disabilities the challenge of athletic competition similar to their non-disabled peers. The Games were an immediate hit and have been a success each year since. In 1992, The Rainbow Games (as it was called then) became a non-profit organization, relying on contributions from businesses, organizations, and individuals to fund the Games and continue the tradition of offering eligible participants the opportunity to compete at no cost to them. The VA Victory Games continue operating as a non-profit and without a doubt; it’s one of the most interesting and motivating events you’ll ever experience.

Among others, the Mobility Supercenter was a booth sponsor and along with fellow vendors like Sportable, ATG Rehab, the event was simply too exciting to sit on the sidelines so within the first hour, the representatives from most of the sponsoring companies were working side by side with the volunteers made up primarily from staff members at the VCU Children’s Hospital, parents of kids competing and an unbelievable amount of High School students from all across the Richmond Metro area. It was great to see such awesome support and to have the privilege to be a part of an athletic event where more than 100 kids from all across the state demonstrated courage, sportsmanship, enthusiasm and the hearts of Champions!

The events ranged from the Wheelchair Slalom, Softball Throw, Bowling and numerous races between 60 and 400 meters. And just like you see on T.V. when watching the Olympic Games, the VA Victory Games started with motivational speeches, a parade of athletes and with the lighting of the torch as the finale’. Johnna Throckmorton, President of the Virginia Victory games and event coordinator left no stone unturned in making this event something truly special for the athletes and also for the spectators, family, sponsors, volunteers and vendors alike.

St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, VA graciously hosted the games, which were held on March 3rd, 2012, and in addition to the energy filled arena, everyone in attendance seemed to enjoy meeting and having their pictures taken with special guests including the Sweet Frog Couple, the Chic-a-filet Cow and Ronald McDonald himself.

There was a solid display of local and national sponsorship ranging from booth sponsors, food and drink sponsors, give-away items and cash. Some of the sponsors other than Mobility Supercenter were Sportable, ATG Rehab, McDonalds, Chick Filet, Sweet Frogs, Pepsi, St. Christopher’s School and the Miracle League of Richmond. For more information on The Virginia Victory Games and to see event photos please visit www.virginiavictorygames.org .

You might want to write this on your calendar, you don’t want to miss this next year!