DE Rink - Dave Rink, Builder
Erich Hohengarten, Projet Manager
(541) 388-0719
PO Box 5962, Bend
OR 97708
This became a family project for the entire DE Rink company family. Everyone got involved and was out at the site helping to build the ramp. Special thanks to Pro Build, for their contribution of building supplies to make this project possible. Also many thanks to those who donated cash and other supplies to make it happen!
Alan Hewitt is a twice decorated U.S. Marine who has been deployed all over the planet as a Special Ops sniper. He was first injured in action in the end of 1989 and nearly lost his leg. After 13 months of surgery and physical therapy to repair the leg he voluntarily returned to his unit for active duty. During his first deployment upon returning he was again injured in action. He sustained a cervical spinal injury and now uses a wheelchair for mobility. After meeting Alan you will see right away that there is little he needs. He is a loving husband and proud father of five and he has an acute appreciation of what is truly important in life. One thing that he does need, however, is improved access to his house. He purchased the house in 2005 and has relied on friends and family to help him transfer from his powered chair down the steps of the porch into another chair every time he would like to leave the house. This is a sketchy proposition for Alan and his wife every time she does it and because he fears for her well-being he rarely leaves the house. His wife reports that he would rather spend any extra money on their six year old son or on a neighbor in need than on himself. She heard about the COBA Ramp-a-thon on the radio on the way home from work and, despite Alan’s initial objections, applied for the program.
Alan is quick to point out that he is just one of the hundreds of thousands of men and women in uniform that do their job as best they can, just like the rest of us. Whether or not your job puts life and limb at risk matters little so long as you do it the best you can. He is excited to go down into the yard to play with his son; to go out and check on the horses on his own; to go to town with his wife for something other than a medical appointment; to take his son fishing while Mom is at school… Access to your own home is something we all take for granted and having it means freedom, safety, and peace of mind for you and for your loved ones. It means having all those things that are truly priceless.
Alan agreed to let us share this story with one goal in mind. Not surprisingly, it has little to do with him. He hopes that this new annual program started by the COBA Remodelers Council will grow in notoriety in the years that follow so that other families and individuals in our community that are lacking safe reliable access to their homes might have their needs met also. They too can experience how a seemingly simple endeavor can reap so many priceless rewards.