PLYMOUTH, PA – Eleven-year-old Brian Lyons recently helped his neighbor, Ann-Marie Kelly, receive a new power wheelchair.
Lyons, of Plymouth, PA, noticed Kelly’s power wheelchair was old and no longer reliable. Lyons decided to start a GoFundMe fundraiser for Kelly, and he also planned to hold lemonade stands to raise money for Kelly’s new power wheelchair.
Lyons’ mom, Linda Uren, contacted Pride Mobility to see if they could help. The company donated a Jazzy Air® 2 Power Wheelchair to Kelly on July 20. Lyons helped present the new power wheelchair to Kelly.
“It makes me feel good to help people,” Lyons said. “I saw my neighbor was having trouble with her wheelchair and I knew I wanted to raise money for her so she could get a new one.”
Kelly’s new Jazzy Air 2 Power Wheelchair will increase her independence as she will not have to worry about her wheelchair breaking down. The power wheelchair can also elevate up to 12” while driving at speeds of up to 4 mph, so Kelly can reach the refrigerator, cupboards, etc. and can converse with people at eye level without straining her neck to look up at them.
“It means a lot,” Kelly said. “I’ve had my other wheelchair for many years, and I’ve had issues with it on and off, but I’m very happy to have this chair now.”
In addition to helping his neighbor, Lyons has raised thousands of dollars for local charitable efforts, including more than $10,000 for the Plymouth Borough Fire Dept. Elm Hill Hose Company #3. The fire company named him junior fire chief and Luzerne County declared “Brian Lyons Day,” which is recognized annually on July 12.
Pride Mobility Products® Corporation is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of mobility products including Jazzy® Power Chairs, Go-Go® Travel Mobility, Pride Mobility® Scooters, and Pride® Power Lift Recliners. The Pride® family of companies also includes Quantum Rehab®, a leader in complex rehab power chairs, as well as Stealth Products®, the foremost manufacturer of positioning components. Headquartered in Exeter, Pennsylvania, Pride also has operations in Las Vegas, Mississippi, Florida, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Visit pridemobility.com.