ATTENTION: All NW H.A.M.B members: Dick Page, 1987 Washington State Hot Rod Hall of Fame Inductee, has suffered many setbacks over the last five years due to cancer, including the loss of use of his legs. Because of those setbacks, life has gotten much more difficult and sometimes the issue of safety rears its ugly head. Because Dick’s mobility these days is limited to the use of a power chair around the home, it is important that he have safe and reliable equipment that is designed to meet his needs. What Dick is really in need of right now is a new power chair that maintains a charge and does not leave him stranded as he continues to do the daily chores that we all take for granted. Laundry is more than just running down to the basement and throwing in a load. With an unreliable chair, getting back up the ramp to the upstairs can sometimes turn into an ordeal or an emergency when the battery fails to move his chair. When we are hungry, we run into the kitchen, wash up some veggies or cut a piece of meat on the cutting board, turn on the stove, and do our thing. For Dick, washing the veggies, cutting the meat, and cooking up his vittles is a little different. For an idea of what I’m talking about, try preparing your next dinner from an office chair. Remember, you can’t get up to get a better angle with the knife or make sure you don’t burn yourself on the pan as your try to sauté your veggies. The solution is a chair with a lift that will help make this simple chore we all have to do just a little safer and easier for Dick. The cost is not tremendous and Medicare covers a lot of it, thankfully. However, the “patient responsibility” portion is more than Dick can consider. So, he has continued to “make do” with an unreliable chair. There is work that needs to be done around Dick’s home for both his safety, convenience, and to tend to deferred maintenance that he cannot do. Some work may need to be contracted out. You may be a contractor that has the ability to sort through some of the home issues or provide materials. You might be an electrician or handyman that could knock out some simple things quickly. The tasks are not huge… and like the money, when its spread over a number of people, it just isn’t a burden on any one person. So, the questions are:What can you give in terms of funds to help get Dick a suitable chair? What can you do to help make his home a safer place to meet his needs? Who can you tell that help is needed? Please tell others that would gladly help if they knew what was needed. This isn’t a huge fundraising drive with dances, tickets, dinners or other such extravagances. We don’t need to do that. Our goal will be reached through the gifts of people that show up when the cause is right and are ready to give as much as they can to help others. So… This is an opportunity for the people that are givers to give back to a man that has donated his time and knowledge to help others for over 50 years. His inspiration has often caused others to advance their knowledge and skills in a trade. If you are in a good station in life and have a little extra that you can use to help, it can certainly make a difference in Dick’s life. PLEASE take a moment and go to https://fundly.com/power-chair-for-dick-page and make your donation right now! If you have questions or would like to volunteer time and labor at Dick's home, please call me at 206-354-8347. David Dickinson
The Jalopy Journal
