Pentagon Federal Credit Union has kicked off 2017 with a focus on making the lives of disabled veterans a little bit easier.
The credit union has donated $30,000 to Segs4Vets to build custom-designed ALLY Chair adapted Segways for combat veterans wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Allowing operation from a seated position, the adapted Segways give paraplegics and double, triple or quadruple amputees the freedom to operate independently.
“Every time we give the gift of mobility, we are truly changing a wounded warrior’s life forever,” PenFed President/CEO James Schenck said. “We are proud to support Segs4Vets in their efforts to empower our nation’s military heroes.”
The Segs4Vets program began in 2005 as a grassroots effort by volunteers who passionately believe when those serving our Nation are sent into harm’s way and are severely injured, they must have access to every resource available in which will allow for their successful reintegration into their communities and encourage them to follow a path of independence rather than dependence upon return. That same objective continues today: to enhance recipients’ mobility, to provide them with role models and a roadmap so that they can remove or avoid frustrations that might inhibit their ability to live an independent, joyful, purpose-filled life.
“If you’ve never been in a wheelchair, you can’t fathom the freedom that an ALLY Chair gives you,” Segs4Vets Founder and President Jerry Kerr said. “Permanently disabled veterans can now go virtually anywhere, places their wheelchair couldn’t. This solves many of the mobility issues facing these veterans. It also rekindles their desire to serve themselves, their families, and their communities. So the impact extends to their wives, husbands, children, mothers, fathers, and other family members and friends whose lives have been turned upside down.”
“We have seen videos of paraplegics using ALLY Chairs to carry mattresses, push snow blowers, and race up and down hills with their children,” Schenck said. “The greatest gift we can provide for other permanently disabled veterans is to give them back their quality of life.”
