McCarthy Heart Hats volunteers recently conducted construction work along with Jezowski & Markel Contractors/Marne Construction, Conco Concrete Pumping, Standard Concrete, Pinnacle Disposal and California Sanitation at the family home of Alec (Bunk) Wurth in Orange, Calif.
Bunk suffered a serious spinal cord injury in 2006 and is paralyzed from the shoulders down. McCarthy “Heart Hats” learned about Bunk’s need for construction assistance at his home from a McCarthy employee who is a good friend of Bunk’s.
McCarthy and its subcontractors built a new sidewalk which will enable Bunk to safely and more comfortably maneuver around the house in his wheelchair. They also built a new patio so Bunk will have a therapeutic place to get outside and soak up some sun during the day. The walkways and patio will also allow Bunk to participate in family activities at the house. Previously, he had to watch from a distance while younger visiting family members played in the backyard.
The Heart Hats construction work is part of a renovation to Bunk’s parent’s guest house which is undergoing significant construction in order to accommodate Bunk. McCarthy and its subcontractors previously installed a new elevator to allow Bunk to get to the second level of the house which is being renovated by various construction volunteers especially for Bunk’s use.
Other subcontractors who McCarthy enlisted to help with construction of the new elevator include: Apollo Electric, Bali Construction, Inc., Bapko Metal, Inc., Briggs Electric, Canyon Insulation, Capparelli Contracting, Clark Pacific, CMF Custom Metal Fabricators, ISEC, Letner Roofing Co., Martin Integrated, McMahon Steel Company, Inc., Murray Company, Nevell Group, Inc, PCI Performance Contracting, Premier Tile & Marble, Raymond, Rebar Engineering, Inc., Seeley Brothers Millwork Doors Hardware, Shaw &Sons Concrete Contractors, Standard Drywall, The McIntyre Company and Trilogy Architectural Products.
The lifetime healthcare costs and living expenses to care for someone in Bunk’s condition is estimated to be about $2.5 – $3 million, a small part of which will be covered by insurance. This figure does NOT include the renovations that are necessary to make Bunk’s family’s home accessible to him. The construction project, part of which McCarthy and other contractors are helping with, involves making the Wurth’s 115 year old home accessible and usable to Bunk. The renovation includes moving walls, refitting bathrooms, installing medical equipment, installing new level floors, ramps & pathways and demolition both in the home and in the yard.
About Bunk:
Alec (Bunk) Wurth grew up in Orange, California. At 36, Bunk is an excellent and dedicated special education teacher, a strong athlete, a committed friend, and a devoted son and brother. Bunk sustained a serious spinal cord injury while playing in a rugby match on February 25, 2006 in Southern California. The C4 and C5 vertebrae were dislocated into his spine, and he immediately lost all movement and sensation from the shoulders down. Initially, Bunk was able to move his shoulders and breathe on his own; however, since the surgical repair to the vertebrae and in the weeks following the injury, bruising elevated up the spine to the C2 level, which is currently rendering him unable to breathe on his own and dependant on a ventilator.
Family, friends, and especially Bunk are confident that through his hard work and determination, the unconditional support of his family and friends, a strong faith, sincere prayers and modern medicine, Bunk will recover. Bunk has never faltered in maintaining the clear vision of his full recovery and healing. We are grateful for Bunk’s courage and strength throughout this catastrophic event in his life, and ask for your continued support and prayers for him.
Bunk taught for eight years at the Speech and Language Development Center in Buena Park, a school for children and young adults with language, learning, and behavioral disorders that often result in complex educational needs. Bunk is a hugely positive influence to hundreds of students and their families; he holds each and every student in the highest esteem, and loves every one of them for the unique and special role each plays in our greater world.
An outstanding athlete his entire life, Bunk was an avid rugby, softball, basketball and soccer player, fisherman and surfer. He is a key member of the Orange County Bucks rugby team, and they are counting on his complete recovery. Bunk is an alumnus of both Servite High School (’88) and Cal State Fullerton with a BA in Art Education. Throughout his high school and college years, he has forged dozens of lifelong friendships. An accomplished artist in his own right, Bunk could often be found painting and creating in both his father’s workshop and his classroom with his students. Bunk has spent his entire adult life as a uniquely gifted teacher helping to improve the lives and well being of his students and all of those around him.
About McCarthy Heart Hats
The McCarthy “Heart Hats” community involvement program is dedicated to encouraging, supporting and recognizing McCarthy employees’ volunteer efforts in a variety of causes to ensure real needs are being met in communities where employees work, live and play. McCarthy employees are as passionate about building better communities as they are about construction. In addition to recognizing outstanding employee volunteers and providing a company-wide paid volunteer day, McCarthy “Heart Hats” donates countless hours of in-kind services and monetary contributions to improve communities each year.
Founded in 1864, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is one of the leading construction firms in Orange County, and among the nation’s oldest and commercial construction companies. The firm provides general contracting, construction management, program management and design/build services for education, healthcare, parking, entertainment, retail, laboratory, biotechnical, microelectronic, and industrial facilities; green buildings; office buildings; tenant interiors; mixed-use; and bridges and highways. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com.
