Fallon Ambulance Donates Van to Needy Family

RANDOLPH AND PLYMOUTH MA, ISSUED MARCH 8, 2002.Fallon Ambulance, a third generation, family-operated ambulance service with headquarters in Milton has donated a fully equipped chair coach to a Plymouth family to transport their handicapped child.

The story of the family's plight was published in the Patriot Ledger's annual Lend a Hand holiday fundraiser and moved the Fallon family to donate the van which will transport 4-year-old Brittany to occupational, physical and speech therapists. Brittany and her twin sister, Sarah, were born premature and spent the first few months of their lives in the hospital. Brittany suffers from cerebral palsy and can use her arms and legs, but cannot walk or feed herself. She uses a wheelchair to sit and needs to be moved around.

The family finances were strained even with the girl's father working the night shift 40 hours a week and delivering papers on the weekend. Repairing the station wagon or replacing it with one equipped for a handicapped child was out of the question.

As Brittany has grown, moving her in and out the car is difficult for her and her parents and also damages the wheelchair. The former Fallon Chair Car offers Brittany and her family a greater quality of life and allows the girls to attend their favorite activities, a weekly visit to the Plymouth Library Story Hour, pre-school and special music classes that encourage Brittany to express herself through music.

"This family's story touched our hearts and we were thrilled when we realized that we were in a position to help," said Peter Racicot, Senior Vice President of Business Development for Fallon Ambulance. "We understand that for a child in a wheelchair, a vehicle is their lifeline and the cost of a specialized van is very prohibitive."

Tracy Chevrolet of Plymouth donated basic maintenance of the chair car. The donation was coordinated through the South Shore Community Action Council, Inc. The non-profit agency is one of three agencies that work with the Patriot Ledger to help area people in need. Located in Plymouth, the South Shore Community Action Council covers 15 towns from Plymouth to Hull and Cape Cod and the Islands. The agency runs several programs, including fuel assistance, transportation for the elderly, day care, health care access, water and sewer assistance and consumer aid program.

Fallon Ambulance Service was founded in 1936 by James R. Fallon, Sr., and has remained a family operated business to this day. The founder’s son, James R. (Ray) Fallon, Jr., and five of his children have all played an integral role in the company’s operation and growth. Fallon Ambulance employs more than 400 personnel, and operates 115 vehicles. The company provides 9-1-1 service to Milton, Quincy, Brookline, Weymouth, Braintree and Dedham as well as primary backup to Boston and Randolph. Fallon Ambulance Service also provides medical transportation for a number of nursing homes, hospitals, and HMOs throughout Greater Boston. Headquarters are at 111 Brook Road, Quincy, MA 02169, and Fallon Ambulance operates satellite offices in Weymouth, Allston and Quincy, MA. A new state-of-the-art headquarters is slated for opening in Quincy in the Fall, 2004. Fallon Ambulance Service is a several-time recipient of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce’s “Success Profile,” and the “local heroes” award by the South Shore Community Action Council. For additional information about Fallon Ambulance services or programs that the company offers, contact Peter Racicot, Senior Vice President of Business Development, at (617) 745-2100, ext. 117 or visit www.fallonambulance.com.