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Lions Gives Mobility Chair To Seven Springs Middle School

Klint Lowry/SUNCOAST

Seven Springs Middle School student Tim Brown is riding in style as he watches the butterfly release. The Special MPS Tomato Push Chair that Tim is using is designed to be adjustable in several ways to meet the specific needs of each user, allowing special needs students more comfortable access to activities throughout the school.

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By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: December 3, 2008

Students and staff at Seven Springs Middle School gave thanks this year for a specific act of generosity from a local service club.

Members of the New Port Richey Cotee River Lions Club were at the school last week as teacher Rich Doskoez led an outdoor ceremony on behalf of his classroom for students of physical disabilities. The students released dozens of butterflies during the ceremony in a show of gratitude to the Lions for donating a multiposition chair that will give Doskoez's students added in-school mobility.

"We thought this would be a good occasion to do this," Doskoez said of the butterfly release.

The school has been developing an organically grown butterfly garden for some time. The garden is filled with flowering plants that are particular favorites of the flying insects. They also raise butterflies and occasionally release them into the garden. Having a release to honor the Lions Club's gift seemed like a symbolically appropriate gesture.

Standing in the garden, butterflies fluttering around them, Principal David Salerno presented New Port Richey Cotee River Lions Club President John Grill with a plaque to round out the occasion.

"What your group has done for this school is wonderful," Salerno said.

Student Tim Brown had a front-row seat for the ceremony, using the Special Tomato Chair. Tim was all smiles, something he's particularly known for around school, Salerno said.

This special chair will allow Tim and his fellow students to bring their smiles to a wider variety of activities, such as Tuesday's butterfly release.

"It has three different ways for the hips to flex," explained Lesley Eccleston, a classroom nurse. "They use it at lunch, they use it at some table activities. We can bring it outside."

When adjusted for Tim, for example, the chair can even make it easier for him to swallow.

The chair got its name from its designer, Tim Bergeron. The New York man invented the chair for the youngest of his four children, daughter Carrie, who had Down syndrome, a congenital heart defect and a number of other health problems. A weekend gardener, Bergeron had always referred to Carrie as the "special tomato of the family."

So when it came time to give the chair a name, it was dubbed the Special MPS Tomato Push Chair. The chair is available via Adpativemall.com, an Internet catalog company Bergeron founded.

The lightweight modular seat is made from a latex-free material that is soft yet durable. It has a 30-degree range of motion to the alignment of the user's pelvis. It also has a back cushion that is height adjustable and contoured with lateral supports, and a height adjustable and contoured head support. The footrest is height and depth adjustable with ankle straps.

The seat is detachable and can be used separately, or be connected to a four-wheel base that allows for 10 - 25 degrees of tilt to accommodate a range of positioning needs. As such the Tomato Chair can be used indoors, outdoors or in transit.

A Tomato Chair was high on their wish list, but didn't appear likely to happen, Doskoez said

"We went to the district, and the there was no money for funding it, so we decided to reach out to the community," Doskoez said

Andrea Schleicher, a teacher of visually impaired students, has a longstanding relationship with the Lions and she turned to them.

"Everything I've ever requested, they've purchased," Schleicher said.

None of those past requests has been anywhere near the size of the Tomato Chair, which cost abut $2,500.

Lions Club International is known for its work with the visually impaired, but the service organization is open to lending a hand to local causes of all types, Grill said.

"We decided we could help," Grill said. "So we purchased the chair and donated it to the special education classes, because they need it."

Klint Lowry can be reached at 727-815-1067 or klowry@suncoastnews.com.

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