Posted at: 11/23/2009 8:50 AM | WHEC.com
By: Jennifer Johnson

Dream comes true thanks to a local business

Have you ever seen a story on the news that moved you to help? Two men were watching News 10NBC in August and did just that. It was a story about two disabled brothers in Greece who were about to lose their pool - the one thing that allowed them to play like any other child. They have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Their muscles are weakening. In fact, Jackson can no longer walk.

It's why they love their pool. They can splash and play like any other kid. Their mom Diane Keeley says it's their freedom. But there were problems with the set-up and the town of Greece said they needed to be fixed. First, the pool was in the front yard because Diane doesn't have a backyard. She went before the zoning board and got a variance for that. But the fence around her yard was only three feet high and it needed to be at least four to meet code. The town called it a safety issue for other kids in the neighborhood. Diane knew what needed to happen but couldn't afford it.

Scott Mathis, owner of Empire Fence Co. Inc., was watching News 10NBC the August night Diane's story aired. He called our TV station and offered to help. Friday he followed through on that promise. Mathis and his team are donating the $2,500 fence and the man power to put it up. It should be done Monday. "We're not the Wilmots or the Wegman people or anything like that but we are the Mathis and we like to donate what we can and help who we can," Mathis said. "Believe me, it is well worth more when the kids are swimming next year than $2,500."

Diane Keeley was home when Mathis and his team started their work. "I don't know how I will pay back Empire Fence because this is just amazing that they are doing this for us. I don't have any words," she said choking back tears. Talking about her boys she said, "They're just so happy that they're going to keep the pool, that's the only thing on their mind - oh we get to keep the pool. They're very happy about that."

Gary Brown was the other man who promised to help Diane. Brown leads the Beamer Hughes Foundation, named after his late friend Tom Hughes who set up the foundation before he died to help others with Muscular Dystrophy. Brown worked with Diane, appearing with her before the town and paying for permits. For more about Tom Hughes and the Foundation, click here.