When Luckie Luke saw a 14-year-old girl struggling to get around in an old wheelchair, he did more than give her a helping hand.
Luke solicited donations to get her a new wheelchair and supplies to build her a wheelchair-accessible ramp. He and his son then built it.
The Hawai‘i Chapter of the American Red Cross will honor 12 "everyday heroes," including Luke, at a breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. The public can buy tickets to the breakfast by calling 734-2101, ext. 102. Tickets are $25 per person.
Luke, who works as a senior companion, also will be honored for helping a client to walk again, something doctors never expected to happen.
Other honorees:
Good Samaritan Youth: Noah Oleyer, 4, of ‘Ewa, who rescued his friend, Eola Liwai Manoa, from a swimming pool last November.
Good Samaritan Adult: Marine Sgt. Maj. Charles Funk foiled a robbery at the Salt Lake Kmart by chasing down a suspect and holding him for security guards.
Good Samaritan Senior: Angel D. Dayot used authentic World War II uniforms and equipment to illustrate the spirit of citizenship to Farrington High School students.
Lifesaver Hero: Lars Brennen is credited with saving the life of a 12-year-old girl who was drowning at Ke‘ehi Lagoon. Brennen performed rescue breathing and cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the girl when he failed to detect a pulse.
Educator Hero: Honolulu police Sgt. Mark Ward trained 467 department employees, over an eight-month period, to use automated external defibrillators.
Military Hero: Army Capt. Teresa A. Condron of the 125th Finance Battalion at Schofield Barracks devoted 500 hours of volunteer service to the military and civilian communities last year. She is an active in the Big Sister/Big Brother program and encouraged her battalion to adopt a school. Condron also organized events such as "make a difference day," a Wahiawa environmental cleanup and car wash benefit for Wheeler Elementary School.
Emergency Responder Hero: Army Staff Sgt. Kevin Dee rescued a driver trapped inside a burning car on Kamehameha Highway moments before the car exploded.
Friend of the Environment: Chuck "Doc" Burrows has promoted conservation and environmental awareness by forming groups such as the Sierra Club High School Hikers program.
Club/Organization Hero: Schofield Barracks Military Police Working Dog Unit, for planning and implementing leadership training workshops at Campbell High School.
Business Hero: Hawaiian Electric Co. spent $350,000 to provide its field employees with automated external defibrillators.
Animal Friend: Pets Are Ohana, a Ko‘olauloa Youth Organization project, for helping pet owners in and around Hau‘ula to sterilize their pets.
