Jupiter resident David Summers and his son Chad went to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center five months ago to watch a turtle release. This being their first visit to the new Center, and David, a trauma nurse and paramedic noticed everything, including the dilapidated stretcher that the turtle was transported on. He was so impressed with the work being done to save and protect the sea turtles, he felt the need to reach out and help the Center find a new stretcher. Upon further discussion with Center staff he also found out the van used to transport the turtles was in dire need of repairs.

So David went to work. He turned to his EMS friends from around the state and John Roche from Lifeguard Ambulance Services in Pensacola heeded the call. His company donated a 1996 fully serviceable ambulance with 337,000 miles.

"What once saved human lives will now save sea turtles," said Summers. "Most ambulances are retired at 500,000 miles, so this particular ambulance, after minor repairs and new tires, all paid for by the Lifeguard Ambulance Services, will serve LMC for years. However, my work is not complete until I can locate new stretchers for the turtle patients, which I am diligently working on," stated Summers.

Ambulatory services for the sea turtles are desperately needed to transport the injured or sick turtles to and from the ocean to LMC in a timely manner.

"For a guest to go out of his way to not only find an ambulance for us; but to go to Pensacola and drive it back, is beyond gracious. Genuine acts of kindness are hard to find, but this truly was and LMC staff can't thank David enough for his compassion and efforts," said Nanette Lawrenson, Loggerhead Marinelife Center Executive Director.

To learn more about sea turtles; visit the Loggerhead Marinelife Center; hours are

10 am - 5 pm Monday thru Saturday; 12 pm - 3 pm Sunday. The nonprofit organization is committed to the conservation of marine life through public education, research and rehabilitation with a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. In addition to providing educational programs, the Loggerhead Marinelife Center operates a sea turtle rehabilitation program, and features aquariums and other marine exhibits and is located at 14200 US Highway One in Juno Beach. For more information visit www.marinelife.org or call 561-627-8280.