Merel Cook still cannot believe he received such a “special gift.”

Earlier this year, Cook was hospitalized after he was involved in a near fatal accident while riding his bicycle to work.

The security assistant at Ocean Lakes High School, who also coaches track and football, has had to enure a long and arduous recovery from the accident. However, he has continued to work hard in his recuperation, and was even able to return to work this spring.

Cook’s story resonated with many in the building – including one of the Army National Guard representatives who visited Ocean Lakes to give the school’s state champion football team an award.

Hearing Cook was still without a bike (since his was destroyed in the accident), the National Guard made sure that would no longer be the case.

In 2010, Tom Crotty, a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard, passed away due to complications from his second battle with leukemia. An avid cyclist, two of his bikes were given to a fellow guardsman. In hearing Cook’s story, the guardsman reached out to the school, and made arrangements for one of Crotty’s bikes to be given to Cook.

“This is a gift that I will cherish and never forget,” Cook said. “I was humbled and honored to accept this gift knowing it came from a fallen soldier who enjoyed and cherished the passion of cycling, the unbounded speed of manpower and the freedom of the open road.”

This most recent example of generosity was just another of unbelievable encouragement for Cook. He added that the entire staff at Ocean Lakes has been helpful and supportive as he has recuperated from his accident.

“I couldn’t ask for anything better – just the community and environment here,” Cook said. “This is a great school.”

 

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