someone at Ford, Chrysler, or GM that maybe involved in the kind of projects listed below...
We are trying to get a new wheelchair van for a friend of mine who has muscular dystrophy.
Copy of the article from our local paper below.
We have the money now for the wheel chair conversion ($18,000.00-$20,000.00)
Now we need a van.
We have a couple of projects coming up that should raise a decent amount. Plus there are a couple of other organizations that are suppose to make donations by the first of the year.
I hate to bother everyone on here with this, but you know more people in the auto industries than I ever will.
They can contact me at
jwest@wayne-dalton.com or
kickinastro1@gmail.com
or the two names listed at the bottom of the article
Thanks for your time.
Jim West
Dispatching hope - Carroll community striving to help resident with muscular dystrophy
By MACK SAUER, T-R Staff Correspondent
DELLROY – In the arena of life, Chris Modranski is a winner of the tough-man contest.
He’s a part-time dispatcher for the Carroll County Sheriff Department, a member of Dellroy Village Council and the Dellroy Ruritan service organization. He’s also vice president of the Dellroy Volunteer Fire Department.
He does all this and more from his wheelchair. His tough man fight is with muscular dystrophy.
Modranski, 22, has been fighting this slow, disabling, muscular disease since he was 10. He said one of the first things he can remember is that doctors had to perform a biopsy to determine that he had the disease. By the time he was a high school sophomore he was in a regular wheelchair and was placed in a motorized version the next year.
His physical disability hasn’t kept Modranski down.
“Chris has been with us almost a year now,” said Carroll County Sheriff Dale R. Williams. “He asked me before that if he could get a job as a dispatcher. I was first overwhelmed by his request as he has a serious disability. But when I worked here back in the ’70s, they had a couple of people with disabilities, and they did a good job.
“I always liked Chris and wanted to give him a chance. Until our budgets were worked out, he volunteered to work and learn the job with no pay. Now, he works three days a week and is doing a wonderful job. He’s very conscientious, willing to learn and a good person.”
The specially equipped van Chris uses during his busy days is a 1999 version his family was able to obtain some time ago. Over the years, the van has developed problems of its own. For many months, Chris, his wife Angie and their family have been working through special projects to raise funds for a newer van. Now, the Dellroy Ruritans are helping with the effort.
As of late November, just more than $18,000 has been raised toward the goal of $35,000. Ruritan Jim Malone said that the service group first contacted a national organization to see if it could help raise money. He said they were told that a van for Chris is considered a luxury item.
“I wonder if they would say that if they were sitting in a wheelchair,” Malone said.
One of the problems with the current van lies with the wheelchair ramp. The van originally featured a stainless steel ramp that automatically extended after the doors opened at the push of a button. Now, the doors open only after handles are manually turned. And the ramp consists of a piece of plywood covered with metal mesh and attached to a pull rope.
It’s a struggle for anyone, particularly someone in a wheelchair.
To date, the largest contributor to the fund has been the Carroll Electric Cooperative. The co-op has a People For People fund collected from customers who voluntarily have their electric bills rounded off to the next dollar amount. The contribution from the electric company and its customers – $7,000.
Ruritans have donated $1,000 with other fundraisers planned. The organization also will hold a benefit auction in January.
The Church of Christ/Disciples at Carrollton will hold a benefit dinner in February with entertainment by the Pioneer Spirit singers. Bob Modranski, father of Chris, sings bass with the group. Other performers are Rev. Mike Doak, Tom White, John Ledford and Al Fisk.
Chris’ mother is Glenda Modranski, manager of Key Bank in Carrollton.
For more information on how to help, call Ruritans
Jim Malone (330) 735-3090 or John Evans (330) 735-2638 or stop by Key Bank at Carrollton.
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