Wide Plank Floor Supply (WPFS), a division of City Floor Supply (CFS) recently coordinated a joint effort to help a family dealing with childhood cancer. The company, along with the support of their partners, provided a custom wide plank floor at a significantly reduced cost, complimentary installation and finish supplies, and free installation to the Walsh family of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
This joint endeavor began in late 2017 when Kevin and Rebecca Walsh visited the Wide Plank Floor Supply Showroom in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. In November of the previous year, their three-year-old son Kieran was diagnosed with a Wilm’s tumor – a form of childhood kidney cancer. After undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy, the family learned that the cancer had metastasized to Kieran’s lungs and that he would need further treatment. They were looking for wide plank hardwood flooring to replace the carpet in their home to help preserve the health of Kieran’s lungs.
While helping the Walsh family select their hardwood flooring, Wide Plank Floor Supply flooring expert Fred Beach learned of Kieran’s story. Fred was in a unique position to understand the emotional strain that the Walsh family was experiencing, as his 21 year-old granddaughter had experienced the same illness as Kieran when she was a child. Determined to do what he could to help, Fred consulted with representatives from Bona Kemi, the Carpenters Joiners Apprentice Program, and DoveLin Enterprises in an effort to assist the Walsh family with the cost of the project.
With Fred’s guidance, the Walsh family selected nine-inch, engineered, white oak, live-sawn flooring for the project in order to minimize the floor’s fluctuations with the change of seasons. Bona R851 adhesive was chosen to glue down the floors because it is a low-VOC product, which minimized the family’s exposure to volatile chemicals during the finishing process. Bona Craft Oil 2K finish was chosen for its ability to provide superior durability and protection to the flooring, as the Walshes have four active young children. View video footage of the install and learn more about Kieran’s story.
Wide Plank Floor Supply supplied the flooring at a significantly reduced cost, while students in the Carpenters Joiners Apprentice Program of Philadelphia donated their labor to install, sand, and finish the flooring. Frank Dove of DoveLin Enterprises, of West Berlin, New Jersey, also donated his labor on the final day of the three-day project to assist in coating the floors, and Bona Kemi donated their low-VOC R851 adhesive and Craft Oil 2K penetrating oil.
“To be involved with something like this that helps somebody – that’s what it’s all about,” said WPFS representative Fred Beach on his participation in the project.
“Fred [Beach] is the most knowledgeable person we have ever met when it came to floors. He talked us through every step, he talked us through every decision and he helped us ultimately make right choices for our family,” said Rebecca Walsh.
For updates about Kieran’s cancer journey, visit the Walsh family’s Facebook page by clicking here.