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The SCOOTER Store Donates Power Wheelchair to Young Columbia Man With Damaged Spinal Cord

Gift of Mobility Allows Anthony Williams to Put his Dreams into Action on Basketball Court

Columbia, Mo.—"Swish" is the sweetest sound to 21-year-old Anthony Williams, an avid basketball fan. Thanks to a free power wheelchair from The SCOOTER Store, Anthony, who cannot walk or stand, is looking forward to tooling around the basketball court, taking shots and watching them go "swish" through the nets.

The sixth of 10 children born to Denise Williams-Logan, Anthony was diagnosed at birth with Myelomeningocele, a birth defect caused when the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth. Anthony also suffers from water on the brain and frequent seizures, which recently caused him to be hospitalized in a rehabilitation facility. 

While in the facility, Anthony was determined to have a basketball rim put up so patients could enjoy some recreation. Not one to dwell on his illnesses, he quickly won over the staff and families with his "ready smile and pure heart," recalls his mother. Anthony collected money from anyone and everyone and now patients can play basketball on their new hoop. 

It was Anthony's determination and positive thinking that prompted his mother to reach out to The SCOOTER Store for help. Her "miracle child" needed a power chair "to make life easier." The SCOOTER Store acted immediately to grant her wish. 

Because the Williams-Logan family lacks insurance and money to pay for the wheelchair, The SCOOTER Store qualified Anthony under its "Gift of Mobility" program. The program provides mobility equipment and assistance to those who do not have insurance coverage or resources to purchase power wheelchairs and scooters. 

Mobility Manager Nathan Kuethe from the St. Louis, Mo. distribution center delivered the chair to Anthony today. Ms. Williams-Logan said she thanks "God for her children and for The SCOOTER Store."

Doug Harrison, CEO and Founder of The SCOOTER Store, said: "We are grateful to give Anthony mobility. Most of us take for granted the simple pleasures like going out to play basketball that come with mobility and independence." 

Mr. Harrison and his wife, Susanna, started the Gift of Mobility program in December 2002 to help people like Anthony improve their quality of life by recovering their independence and mobility. Since then, the outreach program has worked with organizations around the country to donate power wheelchairs, scooters and manual wheelchairs valued at more than $200,000 a year to individuals and community service organizations, enabling them to provide freedom and independence to people with limited mobility.

About The SCOOTER Store

Since 1991, The SCOOTER Store has helped provide freedom and independence to more than 500,000 people with limited mobility. The SCOOTER Store offers a full line of durable medical equipment, including power wheelchairs and scooters, lifts, ramps and accessories in 48 states. The SCOOTER Store has worked with more than 203,000 physicians, providing expertise and quality service to their patients, and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care.