The New Jersey Chapter of NADRA does it again!!!
Last week our members in New Jersey got together to help a young man (18 years old Mike Nichols) who was severely injured during an Ice Hockey game his senior year in high school.

A little about Mike: “Each day he continues to make progress, not only for himself, but for others as he uses his story to raise awareness about spinal cord injuries and as an advocate for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation’s “Big Idea” campaign in support of epidural stimulation research. “I think the more important goal other than being able to walk or skate or do the things I love to do is helping others who are paralyzed, not only those who are paralyzed, but who are handicapped or disabled,” Mike said. “I know firsthand how difficult it is to live this way. I want to make a difference so that one day there is a world without wheelchairs. I hope to god before I die I can see that happen.”

Follow Nichols recovery at mikeystrong23.org and facebook.com/prayformikey23  -Read full article HERE

About the Build: 

This is a special message from your NJ “Deck for a Soldier’ committee members.  We just wanted to let our entire chapter know that the “Deck for Hope” project that a lot of us worked on was a complete success.  This was an easier project including a small deck and a 27′ long ramp to help the recipient gain access to his house.  To the best of our knowledge most of the pressure treated wood materials that we built this deck from were either previously donated or purchased by the family, so we just needed the basic hardware and fasteners.  The project lasted just two and a half days and we must thank a few parties for this quick success.  First there was Jack McNaboe who brought this project to our attention through Jen Sheridan of Phoenix Mfg..  Next we must thank the Monroe Township Football Team for digging the footing holes and then mixing and pouring the concrete in them under the supervision of Jack McNaboe.  The next person who we all must thank was our most crucial person on the front line, the builder who took the lead role on this project, Gustavo delaCruz.  Thank you so much for all of your time and dedication to this project and our NJ Chapter of NADRA.  The next time you see Gustavo, be sure to thank him for everything he did to pull this project together, lead the project while physically working on it as well.  The recipient is an 18 year old boy who was very seriously injured playing ice hockey with his high school team and is now a quadriplegic.  He just completed high school last spring.  He and his parents were so very grateful for our help on this project and expressed it every time we saw them.
Following is a list of Manufacturers who we must thank for their very generous contributions:
  • FastenMaster
  • Simpson Strong-Tie
  • Starborn Industries
Following are the Lumberyards who also made generous contributions:
  • Abbe Lumber
  • Excelsior Lumber
Last but not least are the builders and manufacturer’s reps. who took time out of their busy schedules to help on this build:
  • Gustavo delaCruz – Barrett Outdoors – Team Leader,  Deck for a Soldier Committee Member
  • Bryan Hess – FastenMaster
  • Jeff Mekelburg – FastenMaster
  • Tom O’Rourke – Phoenix Mfg.
  • Pete Miller – Mid State Lumber
  • Dave Ondich – Regal Ideas
  • Bill Lecorchick – Legends Built
  • Lainie Sleppin – LBM Solutions
  • Tim Schlosser – Trex
  • Rick Fennelly – My Deck
  • Jonathan Lascelle – My Deck
  • Jeff Wilkins – CPG, AZEK – TimberTech
  • Alan Bensen – CPG, AZEK – TimberTech
  • Michael Ryan – CPG, AZEK – TimberTech
  • Dan Miles – Miles Decks
  • Kenny Rauber – Parksite
  • Bruce Verblaauw – C. Verblaauw & Sons, LLC, Deck for a Soldier Committee Member
A special Thank you goes out to those individuals who donated several days to this project.  Without your generosity this project would not have been completed so quickly!