Letter to the Editor

Folks,

As most of you know, I have worked hard to raise dollars to help support the educational process in our industry. I need to ask for your help once again. Recently, tragedy has hit close to home. A dear friend and industry leader has fallen on some very difficult times.

Dave Hardester from Mid-Atlantic Car-O-Liner needs our assistance. Anyone who knows Dave knows that he has broad shoulders - shoulders that over the years have carried many of us. Dave is a man that starts and ends each day trying to make a difference in our industry - a modest man who would never ask for help.

Over the past several months Dave has shouldered more than any one of us should ever hope to in a lifetime. In the fall, Dave lost his wife to a battle with cancer. Gail was the family's cornerstone and their lifeline. She was 50 years young and a true saint. Her passing was overwhelming and completed unexpected for us all. Just after her diagnosis, they were dealt another major blow.

Shawn, Dave's 22-year-old son who worked at a collision repair facility in Baltimore and is a graduate of Universal Technical Institute, had a life-changing accident. In July, with a mere slip on a boat, he is now a quadriplegic. He needs daily help to continue his recovery, obtain equipment to sustain his quality of life, and the medical attention required for this type of injury. Dave has no one to help, no insurance, little money left and only his friends and family to turn to. Shawn needs 24/7 care and his injury dictates that much of that care be professional in nature.

I know times are tough. There is a group in the D.C./Baltimore market led by Ken Moran from Mastercraft and Teresa Bolton from ASE that is working hard and has committed their own dollars to help with a fundraiser in February. But, in the meantime (and I fear for years to come), he needs our help - right now, today. I would appreciate each of you considering writing a check to the National Transplant Assistance Fund (NTAF) & Catastrophic Injury Program (info below) to help Dave and Shawn. I promise that your support and generosity will not go underappreciated or without notice.

Please make checks payable to NTAF Mid-Atlantic Spinal Cord Injury.

Print in memo section: In honor of Shawn Hardester.

Mail to: NTAF, 150 Radnor Chester Road, Ste F120, Radnor, PA 19087.

To make a credit card contribution, call (800) 642-8399 or visit www.catastrophicfund.org.

I appreciate your concern and support for Shawn.

May God Bless,

Clark W. Plucinski,
Executive Vice President
True2Form Collision Repair Centers
Gaithersburg, Md.
(301) 482-1905 office.