National Press Release

CASHIERS, N.C., June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Typical ninth graders are worried about fitting in at their new high schools, staying in touch with friends from middle school, or keeping up with the latest popular trends--they should not be concerned about getting from one class to the next or other mobility issues. But Luis Magana is not a typical ninth grader, and neither are his classmates.

Although Magana was diagnosed with brain cancer almost four years ago, he continues to attend school on a regular basis but can no longer move around the school on his own. Seeing what a difficult time he was having, Magana's classmates at Blue Ridge Early College School wrote a letter to the Rotary Club of Cashiers Valley and asked for help obtaining a scooter for their classmate to help him get around.

Today the Rotary Club of Cashiers Valley accepted a three-wheel Rally scooter from The SCOOTER Store on behalf of Magana. On hand at the presentation from The SCOOTER Store's Knoxville, Tenn., operations was Mobility Manager Derek McCarty. The scooter 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.

"In his special way, Luis has been an active member of our Interact Club, a service club for 14 to 18 year-olds, for the past three years," said Chuck Bolognia, sponsor of the Rotary Club of Cashiers Valley's Interact Club. "He is always wearing a smile as wide as a pumpkin on Halloween. Nothing can stop him."

Last year, Magana helped raise money for a new playground adjacent to Blue Ridge. As this playground came to life, he became more and more restricted on his ability to move. The school's International Awareness Club and the Rotary's Interact Club recently teamed up to build a ramp and deck at Magana's home to prepare for his limited mobility and use of a wheelchair.

"Luis is one of the most dedicated students I have ever met," said Dr. Beverly VanHook-Schrey, principal of Blue Ridge Early College School. "No matter how ill he is, he always wants to excel and asks for more work. I am very proud of our students and staff who came together for this gift. The scooter will make life a lot better for him when he comes back to school and help him become a part of the mainstream again."

Blue Ridge provides pre-kindergarten through 12th grade classes on two campuses to a total of 300 students. With a scooter to help him get around now, Magana will be able to go to classes and events like school assemblies on his own again. According to those who know him, he does not like people to push him around in a wheelchair; he prefers to do things himself.

"Kids these days are truly amazing, and the fact that his classmates not only raised money to build a new ramp at his house and have his driveway repaired, but also reached out to help him is a testament to it," said Doug Harrison, Founder, President and CEO of The SCOOTER Store and an 18-year member of the New Braunfels Rotary Club. "Luis is an inspiring young man, and we are proud to provide this gift that will help him regain his freedom and independence."

Harrison and his wife, Susanna, started the Gift of Mobility program in December 2002 to help people like Luis Magana improve their quality of life by improving their independence and mobility. Since then, this outreach program has worked with organizations around the country to donate power wheelchairs, scooters and manual wheelchairs to individuals and community service organizations, fulfilling the mission of The SCOOTER Store 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 has an estimated 30 percent of the current U.S. market in the DME 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.

SOURCE The SCOOTER Store