Photo By Jason Tudor | Members of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 333, and the Military Order of the...... read more read more
CASTLE POINT, N.Y. - Three veteran-centered organizations teamed up with Veterans Administration Hudson Valley Healthcare System to donate rolling rehabilitation tools June 13 at the Castle Point campus multipurpose room.
The Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 333; the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 120; and the Marine Corps League donated three handcycles, two to VA Hudson Valley and one directly to a veteran. About 25 people attended the event.
Efforts to raise the funds and buy the handcycles started in November 2013. Through 18 events and via personal donations, the VVA and the MOPH raised more than $12,000, including one personal donation of more than $5,400, to buy the handbikes for VA Hudson Valley.
Handbikes are made in small quantities. Low-end cycles run about $2,000 while more advanced models tally about $7,000. A handcycle is powered by the arms rather than the legs. Most handcycles have three wheels, with two coasting rear wheels and one steerable powered front wheel. They are also called handbikes.
Margaret B. Caplan, VA Hudson Valley medical center director, praised the effort by the Veterans Service Organizations and welcomed the donation of the handcycles.
“This was something very special done by these three VSOs and we can’t thank them enough for their service to the veterans we both serve and the level of caring and compassion they have for our Veteran community,” she said. “We will put these handcycles to very good use as part of our patient-centered care focus.”
Yvette Rodriguez-Cacho, voluntary services officer for VA Hudson Valley who liaisons with the VSOs, said the groups’ charity is part of a strong relationship between them and the VA medical center.
“It’s important for us to honor these Vet organizations for what they’ve done. They worked very hard, and events like these help us keep that relationship strong,” she said. “If you don’t develop that, you’ll get nothing back.”
Roy Tschudy of Chapter 333, said the VVA started the campaign “to assist our combat wounded veterans who have sustained serious combat wounds, amputations and paralyzing injuries.
“In doing so, this will aid those injured veterans to gain and experience recreational outdoor mobility and exercise. This type of outdoor exercise is essential for cardiovascular, muscular, weight management; overall well-being and reinvigorating our warriors’ mental competitiveness,” Tschudy said.
The VSOs also donated a competition cycle directly to U.S. Army Veteran Freddy De Los Santos, a Hopewell Junction, New York, native. A former special operator, De Los Santos suffered traumatic brain injury and an above-the-knee leg amputation following a rocket-propelled grenade attack. After the 10-year veteran separated, he battled depression. While working through rehabilitation, De Los Santos discovered the handcycle.
“I did it as a way to get motivated and heal,” De Los Santos said. Three years later, he’s winning events, the most recent in Chattanooga, Tenn., and reaching speeds of 65 mph. “Whenever I feel I’m getting out of control, that’s what helps me,” he said. “It makes me feel like I’m alive.”
Marcus Arroyo of Chapter 333 praised De Los Santos’ spirit. “He is our true hero. This is a man who made real sacrifices. He left his family, his job, and put his life on hold for the defense of our United States of America. We salute and honor him with this handcycle.”
| Date Taken: | 06.13.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2014 16:21 |
| Story ID: | 133075 |
| Location: | CASTLE POINT, NY, US |
| Hometown: | CASTLE POINT, NY, US |
| Hometown: | HOPEWELL JUNCTION, NY, US |
| Hometown: | MONTROSE, NY, US |
| Web Views: | 226 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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