PROFESSIONAL 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, Professional 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, who is leading the company-wide project. "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."

"It is expected that there will be approximately 200,000 new amputees in Haiti as a direct result of the earthquake," added Greg Smith, MS, ATC, owner of Professionals SportsCare & Rehab and Head Athletic Trainer for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. "International aid agencies are requesting these items to assist in the rehabilitation of victims now left with mobility impairments. Working with our patients and members of our community, we can help deliver what is urgently needed."

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

Professional 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)