MORRIS COUNTY

Fundraiser planned for Nick Taylor, injured Marine from Chester Twp.

SUSAN BLOOM
Correspondent

Last November, newly graduated Marine Nick Taylor, 21, of Chester Township and several fellow Marines were making a trip from their station at 29 Palms military base in California to Las Vegas to attend the Marine Ball.

Throughout his rehab, Nick Taylor has enjoyed the company of Staff Sergeant Archie, a Marine Corps Service Dog.

The driver of the car lost control, and Taylor was ejected in the crash, leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.

In support of the injured serviceman, a beef steak fundraiser will be hosted by Uncle Sam's Avengers Motorcycle Club on June 19 at The Russian Hall in Little Falls. The money will go to the Taylor family to help cover expenses in modifying their home and pay for Nick's ongoing care.

Nick Taylor with mother Patricia Taylor.

"It's a struggle for Nick, and he's gone through a tragic situation, but he's very strong," said Patricia Taylor, Nick's mother.

He began his rehabilitation at Kessler Institute in West Orange in December and has been at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, since March.

Along with husband Christopher and daughters Alexandra, 22, and Samantha, 17, "we've been there for Nick since day one and everybody's been strong," said Patricia Taylor, who's been at Nick's side every day since November.

As for Nick Taylor, "he does a lot of rehab and gives 100 percent," she said. "He has a long road ahead of him, but he's doing great."

While the Taylor family has focused on rallying around Nick, they've endured financial stress in the form of lost wages, travel costs and a variety of special needs and medical equipment in support of Nick's care. Among those, their home has required modifications to make it user-friendly for their son's eventual return — including the installation of a wheelchair ramp, a specialized bathroom and other Americans with Disabilities Act-recommended improvements.

During his rehabilitation, Nick Taylor receives a visit from sisters Samantha and Alexandra.

Hearing about the situation, Dan Bendas, lieutenant of the Parsippany Police Department's Patrol Division, and Parsippany Police Department patrol officer Ted Anderson, Bendas' longtime friend and colleague, snapped into action through Uncle Sam's Avengers Motorcycle Club, the nonprofit organization they co-founded in November 2009.

"Ted and I are both veterans, police officers, and motorcycle enthusiasts — we love our jobs, this country and riding motorcycles, and the club was a way for us to put it all together and give back," said Bendas, who served in the Navy from 1994 to 1999.

"We heard about Nick's story and the family's need for funds to help retrofit their home and support Nick's on-going care, and we knew that this was something we could easily get behind," Bendas said. "Nick is a Morris County guy. We have many Morris County members in the club, and we know many EMTs, firefighters, and others who would help," he said of the fundraiser.

"We're a very civic-minded group and want to help people in need and give back," Bendas said. Following a variety of other events they've organized, "this will be the second beef steak event we've held, and they're always a good time. We'll also be featuring live music, a tricky tray and a 50-50 raffle, so we hope people will come out for it."

"We were overwhelmed with gratitude when we learned that this group wanted to honor Nick, and we'll all be attending as well," Patricia Taylor said. "It will be a great night for Nick — his first public outing since the accident — and our whole family is looking forward to it."

"We've learned a lot through this experience," Christopher Taylor said, about his son's accident and recovery. "Life is full of great dangers, but it's also filled with the kindness of strangers. Uncle Sam's Avengers offered help without our asking."

Nick Taylor with parents Christopher and Patricia in November before his accident.

As for the 25-30-member Uncle Sam's Avengers Motorcycle Club, whose members are located throughout the state, "our hopes are simple," Bendas said. "We're rooted in the community and family and we want to help Nick achieve the best possible rehab he can so that he can re-assimilate back into the community he grew up in."

"We sincerely thank all of the friends, family and community members who have helped us so far and continue to help us meet our needs and wants; we truly can't put our gratitude into words," Patricia Taylor said.

Of her wish for her son? "My hope is for Nick to get his functionality back, but whatever happens, as long as he's happy, we're happy," she said.

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IF YOU GO

Beef Steak Fundraiser

Benefit for: Marine Nick Taylor of Chester Township

When: 6-10 p.m., June 19

Where: The Russian Hall, 4 Woodhull Ave., Little Falls

Hosted by: Uncle Sam's Avengers Motorcycle Club

Tickets: $45, includes food, beer, live entertainment

More information: 973-265-2865 or visit www.unclesamsavengersmc.com