Nationwide Tour pros visit children's rehab facility

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PGATOUR.COM

Doug LaBelle II gives a lesson at the Allied Rehab Hospital.

MOSCOW, Pa. -- Todd Demsey was nervous on Tuesday, but not because of anything happening on the golf course. The 37-year old has played on the Nationwide Tour and PGA TOUR for the past 14 years and isn't bothered by forced carries over water and long bunker shots. A veteran of pressure-packed amateur and professional tournaments, Demsey rarely gets rattled and carries a laidback approach to life.

PGATOUR.COM

Rich Barcelo is all smiles with five-year old Quinn.

After surviving two surgeries to remove brain tumors a few years ago, nothing really fazes the Scottsdale resident. Demsey's anxiety was due to his anticipated visit to meet some children. The kids, though, weren't just any children. This group of special youngsters was located at the Allied Rehab Hospital in Scranton, Pa.

"I was definitely a little anxious going out," he said. "You just never know how you're going to react or how the kids will react."

Demsey and fellow Nationwide Tour members Rich Barcelo, Doug LaBelle II and Jon Mills took time away from preparations for this week's Northeast Pennsylvania Classic to give some impromptu golf lessons to a group of kids with developmental disabilities.

The Allied healthcare system, founded in the early 1960s, is now one of the country's most diverse not-for-profit providers of rehabilitative, vocational, home care and residential services.

"The atmosphere there was so positive. It's a pretty happy place," said Demsey, a father of two. "It makes you appreciate having healthy kids and reminds us all how lucky we all are."

Demsey and his peers took a tour of the physical and occupational therapy areas, met with therapists and staff members and then had a chance to visit with the kids.

"I knew what to expect but it's still tough. It definitely hit home for me," said Barcelo, whose five-year old niece is blind and suffers from cerebral palsy. "When you get to see first-hand the amount of responsibility that the therapists have, it makes you think about the children but also the parents and what they go through on a day-to-day basis."

The facility is part of the Allied Services Foundation, which serves about 5,000 residents of northeast Pennsylvania on a daily basis. The foundation provides inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and home care services, vocational services, care for the elderly and offers specialized learning environments.

"The therapists have a heart of gold to help these kids and make them feel so special every day. I don't know how they do it," said Barcelo, who also has two young children at home. "It was overwhelming to see them working together."

Demsey figured most kids would be reluctant to go through the rigors of rehab. Not this specially challenged group.

"It was the complete opposite of what I guessed," he said. "These kids look forward to going there and working with the staff. The kids are just amazing. They're so full of life. They're so excited about the day. To see the smiles on their faces, it was certainly a humbling experience."