EXTREME VOLUNTEERS MOBILIZE AGAIN

By Jane Seiberling

Kristen Sykora, volunteer organizer, and Sal Ferro, president of Alure, at the Arena home makeover reveal.

In the May edition of e-touch, you read the story of Kristen Sykora, a licensed massage therapist and AMTA member who collaborated with Alure Home Improvements to provide volunteer massage therapists for an episode of the ABC television series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Just three weeks later, Sykora and Alure worked together again on another episode of the series.

Even though it had been only a short time since the Peter family makeover in Queens, New York, Alure agreed to be the crew for a makeover for the Arena family in Purdys, New York. Because their first shoot together had been such a success, Alure asked Sykora if she’d be willing to bring another team of volunteer therapists to the new shoot.

After having such a great experience on the Queens site, Sykora felt confident about organizing another team of volunteer therapists for Purdys. This time she had help; Susannah Barker, a volunteer from the first crew, filled in the work schedule while Sykora got responses from therapists. They made a schedule that covered shifts around the clock for the full Friday through Tuesday shoot.

Volunteer therapists Melanie Truitt and Susannah Barker ply four-handed massage in the Purdys tent.

Feeling fully prepared, the team of therapists arrived in Purdys on April 21 to begin. However, there were still some surprises in store for them. “In some ways it couldn’t have been more different from the first shoot,” says Sykora.

The Purdys worksite was 50 miles from the Queens one, and much more spread out. The therapists had to load themselves, tables, chairs and other gear onto small transports to be carried around the site. In addition, the therapists had been provided with a tent, but it was not much help when the rain began.

“It rained all day Saturday, Sunday and Monday,” says Sykora. “Our tables started sinking into the ground, and the crew had to help us put planks underneath to stop them. The crew would come in soaked through, covered in mud, and the therapists ended up getting just as messy as them!”

In spite of these inconveniences, there were many unforgettable moments. Sal Ferro, president of Alure, got his first ever on-site massage in Purdys. Sykora says, “Even though he’s the boss, Sal’s such a hands-on guy. I think he gets less sleep than anyone else on the site.” He was reluctant to get a massage because, says Sykora, “he didn’t want to take time when one of his workers could be getting a massage. But I told him, ‘You have to be able to function too!’”

The two shoots were the same in one way: they both ended with a lot of satisfied volunteers and many new friends. “Although our team may not make it to the television screen, our presence was surely appreciated. I…will be happy to round up the therapists again should they need us,” says Sykora.

Jane Seiberling is publications manager for AMTA and editor of e-touch. You can write to her at etouch@amtamassage.org.

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