Independence unveils new physical therapy equipment thanks to Shop’n Save owner

“Ray rides again.”

It’s not just the motto that Charley Family Shop ’n Save owner Ray Charley uses to describe his return to biking, after a 2020 cycling accident shattered his pelvis and left him unable to walk for five months.

It’s the result of his physical therapy and his desire to give back. Charley, 72, of Unity worked with staff at Independence Health System’s Excela Square at Latrobe and spent months regaining the strength to start cycling again in 2021, particularly for a 440-mile charity ride in Utah.

The nearly $71,000 generated through the ride and accompanying “Ray Rides Again” fundraiser helped pay for specialized rehabilitation equipment that Independence staff unveiled for Charley on Friday morning.

“We looked at what therapies Ray had benefited from, and what resources could enhance rehabilitation for patients with various diagnoses, especially orthopedic and neurological cases, as well as expanding offerings for people with sports injuries,” said Independence’s Westmoreland Rehabilitation Service Director Amy Sailor.

The equipment includes a functional trainer, upright bike, a Pilates Reformer cycle — complete with a tiny “Ray’s Ride” license plate — and an anti-gravity treadmill, which particularly caught Charley’s attention during a tour Friday morning.

“One of these was really important for me in my recovery,” said Charley, who serves as board chair for Independence’s Westmoreland/Frick Hospital Foundation. “I could barely put any weight on myself at first, and this treadmill is perfect because you can (use the harnesses to) make yourself weigh 20 pounds in order to get your rehab done.”

As his body slowly began to heal, Charley gradually was able to use the treadmill’s harness system to ease himself back into supporting his full body weight.

Jody Eberhart, a 27-year military veteran and police officer in the Ebensburg area, has been undergoing physical therapy for the past two months at the Latrobe facility. He stopped the tour briefly to shake Charley’s hand.

“They have a great staff here, and they give great care,” Eberhart told him. “This equipment, and what the staff does, is really helping people from all age groups.”

That is what Charley was hoping.

“Having quality health care in the community is very important to me,” he said. “My focus is to keep that available. It’s great to not have to go to Pittsburgh or Monroeville for this level of care.”