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UPPER CHICHESTER, Pa. (AP) — There are not enough hours in the day, it seems, to accommodate Kevin Neary's busy schedule. Currently the 33-year-old Upper Chichester resident is working industriously at his computer and on the phone, recruiting participants and sponsors for a fundraising golf event in September. He is also researching graduate schools. In addition, Neary is preparing to share best man duties with his younger brother for their big brother's May 28 wedding at the Constitution Center in Philadelphia. He has two more weddings on tap this summer. When he gets a break, Neary watches some TV and catches up on sports. The rain and chilly temperatures are the only reasons he hasn't gotten to Citizens Bank Park to watch his beloved Phillies play yet this season. "I like a little more of the fast pace," he said. Admittedly, Neary's pace has slowed drastically since Nov. 15, 2011, when he was shot and paralyzed from the shoulders down during an attempted robbery about 30 yards from his Philadelphia apartment in the 700 block of Bodine Street. His assailant is now in prison, where he will stay for 30 to 60 years. Short of a technological breakthrough, Neary will spend the rest of his life in an electric wheelchair that he navigates with tilts of his head. He can shrug his shoulders but has no feeling below them. During the day Neary breathes with the assistance of a diaphragmatic pacemaker that sends electrical signals through his skin to stimulate his diaphragm and push his lungs into action. At night he is on a ventilator. Neary must take 10 to 15 medications and supplements at various times throughout the day. He has given up the city life he so relished. He now resides with his father, Joseph, in his childhood home on Kelly Avenue in an approximately 800-square-foot, handicapped-accessible addition made possible largely through donations of services, supplies and money. "I am Kevin's primary caregiver. However he has 24-hour nursing, which is provided through Medicare," said his 66-year-old father, Joseph, a retired accountant and an Upper Chichester commissioner. An aide comes from about 9 a.m. to noon every day but Saturday to assist Neary with bathing, dressing, range of motion stretching to keep his muscles from contracting, and light housekeeping. His father covers Saturday mornings and also helps him prepare for bed at night. Weekdays he sees his primary care physician, cardiologist, pulmonary specialist and neurologist with occasional visits to his dermatologist and orthopedist. "I see a lot of medical professionals and those keep me occupied. Those take a lot more time than they used to, and it takes one-and-a-half to two hours to get me dressed and prepared for the day," said Neary. "It minimizes my optimal hours to do things." Nevertheless, he makes the most the most of the hours available to him. Neary is currently working with his aunt and uncle, Denise and Chris Kelly of Rockville, Md., and family friend, Bill Burland of Upper Chichester, on recruiting golfers, sponsors and donors for the fourth annual Friends of Kevin Neary Golf Outing set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Wyncote Golf Club in Oxford, Chester County. "We just had our first conference call about it last week. We are trying to gain more momentum and attention," said Neary on Thursday. Conceived by Chris Kelly and Burland, the event raises funds to help defray Neary's staggering medical expenses, such as the cost of home health aides, which averages $450 a week, and equipment. The first golf tournament in 2013 helped raise funds for the $76,000 modified Econoline van that enables Neary to get to medical appointments and social outings. "We raised about $25,000 last year, which was the most to date," said Joseph Neary. Chris Kelly said that his wife, who is the 58-year-old sister of Neary's father, "is the true brains behind the big day." "It's her love for Kevin that motivates her, coordinating the logistics of the event, including the solicitation of the auction donation items and overseeing the actual day itself," said Kelly. "She wrangles auction donations from across the country in order to help raise funds for him." Mrs. Kelly noted that many family members and friends are involved with the outing, with Burland being " the first among supporters, a great friend to Kevin, and to my brother Joe." "There are friends and strangers who have embraced Kevin, and, in planning the charitable event, we are lucky to count on a big and hard-working committee," she noted. Neary himself has become increasingly involved over the years with planning the fundraiser for his medical expenses not only via telephone, but through email, which he executes verbally utilizing speech recognition software. "That is probably one of the things where I have improved. I use Dragon Naturally Speaking and I've gotten better with that over the years," said Neary, who also keeps in touch with family and friends via email. One of the items he hopes to eventually acquire is a tilt table that will enable him to be upright and possibly assist in preserving bone density and balance and in preventing degenerative conditions caused by his paralysis. He is aiming to increase his visits to the City of Brotherly Love, which has the fast pace he enjoys. "I still get my hair cut there every three to four weeks. The main time is the summer months when I go to the Phillies games. We have a Sunday game package. This year I would like to do more getting together with people and experiencing a lot of the restaurants," said Neary, who has attended several Philadelphia 76ers basketball games this season. A 2000 graduate of Salesianum High School in Wilmington, Del., and a 2004 political science and history graduate of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Neary was a recruiter for health care and medical professionals before he was shot. He also waited tables on the side. "I tried last year to do more recruitment," noted Neary. He is considering going back to school for a graduate degree in sports management, but needs to find a way to be exempt from taking graduate record examinations, which would be difficult for him to execute in his physical condition. "I think he is a whole lot stronger than even I can give him credit for," said Neary's father Thursday. "It's not a bed of roses but he remains smart, funny, gracious and upbeat. It has been four and a half years this week and people often ask for him and tell me he is an inspiration to them." Since Neary returned home from Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia on Feb. 23, 2012, his father has been his primary caregiver. His mother, Marian, died of lung cancer in November 2002 when he was 20. "My family still helps regularly, with regular visits, occasional meals, taking Kevin on trips to the city and just general keeping in touch," said Joseph Neary. His 35-year-old son, Joseph, works at the University of South Carolina, where he is director of development and completing his doctorate. He is engaged to be married to Olivia Cotton on May 28. Neary's 31-year-old son, Christopher, lives in Washington, D.C., and is on the staff of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire. He is engaged to marry Lindsey Schwalb on April 29, 2017. "Both couples are getting married in the Philadelphia area so Kevin can be involved," said Neary. He will be picking up both his and Kevin's tuxedoes in a little more than a week. "I think both of my sons have found wonderful young women and they will be the daughters my wife and I didn't have," said Neary. Kevin Neary said he doesn't have a romantic interest at the moment but it is apparent he is well-loved, especially by those in his favorite city. The logo for the Friends of Kevin Neary - FOKN - in fact, is configured to resemble Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture in Philadelphia's JFK Plaza and has been displayed on the marquee of Citizens Bank Park just beneath the Phillies' logo. Among others who have staged events to help defray Neary's monumental medical expenses are the FOKN Runners, who have mounted a half marathon; Zavino Wine Bar and Pizzeria University City where one staff member hosted a Happy Hour fundraiser and donated her tips; and the Irish Network of Philadelphia, which has dedicated its Christmas gatherings, co-hosted by the Brehon Law Society and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, to raising funds for Neary. "We are aware, as a family, that we are lucky to have such a generous network, and aware that many people in similar situations do not have that sort of network," said Denise Kelly. She understands, however, what motivates that support for her nephew. "He is amazing - a great person, a great son, a great brother, a great nephew, a great cousin, a great friend. He is always up for fun - loves Philly sports, going to the casino, going out for a beer," said Kelly. "No matter what, we count on Kevin to make our lives better and more fun." Neary concedes that he is "fairly positive and upbeat." "I have great support from friends and family. They keep my morale up. They give me the opportunity to experience things. That's the main crux of what's going on," said Neary. "Sometimes I still struggle with keeping that message fresh." He does not dwell on Christopher Easton, the 20-year-old high school dropout who reportedly told Philadelphia police he attempted to rob Neary at gunpoint because he was bored, but does have some thoughts on gun control. "I would like to see us be able to eliminate straw purchases and, ideally, guns on the street," said Neary, who believes the gun used by his assailant was an unregistered firearm. He is keeping an eye on medical research. "I would like to see new developments for myself," said Neary. In the meantime, he wants to fill his weekends and evenings with the people and places that mean the most to him. Neary is grateful that his van, which was purchased in December 2013, has made travel possible for him. He has gone as far as Morristown, N.J., for a wedding. "It has given me the ability to get out and experience things in the community and in the City of Philadelphia that are very important to me - visiting friends and things that I would experience that would be important to me if I were healthy - birthdays and weddings," said Neary. More important than participating in events, noted Neary, is having the ability to share memories with friends. "Every day Kevin is with us is an inspiration," said Chris Kelly. "His will to live and to contribute in some way back to the community, is amazing." ___ Online: http://bit.ly/1WANw1b ___ Information from: Delaware County Daily Times, http://www.delcotimes.com

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