MARYLAND SPORTSCARE & REHAB TO COLLECT CANES, CRUTCHES, WALKERS AND WHEELCHAIRS FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

In response to the critical need for medical supplies to help care for those injured in the Haiti earthquake, Maryland SportsCare & Rehab will collect new and gently used assistive devices, including canes, crutches, walkers and wheelchairs. The devices will then be donated to Project HOPE for immediate distribution in Haiti.

"We want to do our part to help," said Christopher Horowicz, DPT, ATC, Clinic Director, who is leading the company-wide project. "It is expected that there will be approximately 200,000 new amputees in Haiti as a direct result of the earthquake. International aid agencies are requesting these items to assist in the rehabilitation of victims now left with mobility impairments. We have chosen to coordinate our efforts with Project HOPE, which has vast experience in delivering health education, medicines, medical supplies and volunteer help around the globe."

Assistive devices can be brought to any of the eleven Maryland SportsCare & Rehab locations or eleven Professional SportsCare & Rehab locations now through March 1. Maryland SportsCare & Rehab staff will then deliver the donated equipment to the Project HOPE Distribution Center in Winchester, Virginia and then sent to HOPE's secure and controlled warehouse in the Dominican Republic for immediate distribution in Haiti.

Maryland SportsCare & Rehab is working in partnership with Midway Self Storage, who donated a storage unit, and Brown's Tire Towing & Auto Care Center, who donated a truck to deliver the collected items. Both are located in Shepherdstown, WV. Any organizations or individuals interested in assisting with the collection or starting their own collection sites can email a request to asstdevices4haiti@yahoo.com.

Since 1958, Project HOPE has worked to make health care available for people around the globe. They are committed to long-term sustainable health care. Their work includes educating health professionals and community health workers, strengthening health facilities, fighting diseases such as TB, HIV/AIDS and diabetes and providing humanitarian assistance through donated medicines, medical supplies and volunteer medical help. (www.projecthope.org)