Responding to a 911 call, Philadelphia Police Officer Edward Schikel found something that shocked him: 56-year-old Stephanie Richardson, whose legs were amputated due to circulatory problems had been living without a power wheelchair despite her immobility.
Richardson, who had placed the emergency call due to confusion resulting from her medication, had difficulty using a manual wheelchair and depended entirely on her caregiver for help.
Schikel contacted the Scooter Store to see if the provider could help. After two calls the deal was sealed: the Scooter Store would give Richardson a free power wheelchair via its Gift of Mobility program. The program works with local organizations worldwide to annually provide more than $200,000 worth of power wheelchairs, scooters and manual wheelchairs.
David Belrose, Mobility Manager for the Scooter Store’s Philadelphia distribution center, delivered the chair to Richardson on Tuesday.
Richardson said the chair “is the best thing that has ever happened,” according to a statement from the Scooter Store.
“The goal of the Gift of Mobility program is to help people like Ms. Richardson improve their mobility and help them enjoy more out of life,” said Scooter Store CEO and founder Dough Harrison, who started the Gift of Mobility program with his wife, Susanna, in 2002.
