What is the St. Christopher Fund?
The St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund (SCF) is a 501(c)(3), nationwide charity that helps over-the-road semi-truck drivers and their families when an illness or injury, occurring within the last year, has caused them to be out of work. The SCF also provides free health and wellness programs that benefit professional drivers and the trucking industry.
The Missions
To help over-the-road semi-truck drivers and their families when an illness or injury has recently caused them to be out of work. Assistance may be in the form of direct payment to providers for household living expenses such as, rent/mortgage, utilities, vehicle payments, and insurance. The SCF provides all applicants with additional resources, as well as information on how to negotiate price reductions with medical providers and hospitals. We normally do NOT pay medical bills.
To provide free health and wellness programs for drivers in hopes of preventing some common medical illnesses seen in this population. These programs include diabetes prevention, smoking cessation, chronic disease management, at-home cancer screenings, and free flu, shingles and pneumonia vaccines.
Why was it started?
Studies have shown that more than 70% of the 3.5 million professional truck drivers in the U.S. have one or more serious health problems such as obesity, diabetes, sleep disorders and cardiovascular disease. Truck drivers also lack the same access to health that most Americans enjoy. Access is limited because drivers work irregular hours, spend long-durations away from home, and are unable to navigate side streets and parking lots in their trucks to get to a clinic, pharmacy or hospital. Compounding the problem is the fact that more than one-third of truck drivers do not have health insurance.
The unfortunate result of these circumstances is that drivers are often unable to get treatment in the early stages of disease, allowing the condition to progress to a much more severe state. Minor illnesses become severe, leading to hospitalization and disability. The driver then may lose his/her commercial drivers license and become unable to work. This creates a downward spiral that leads to extreme financial hardship.
Who Started SCF?
After witnessing hundreds of truck drivers and their families struggle to survive as a result of catastrophic illness or injury, Dr. John McElligott (“Dr. John”) was compelled to take action. He found willing partners in Dave Nemo, host of The Dave Nemo Show (XM Radio Channel 146) and his business partner Michael Burns. Together, they launched the truck driver charity to come to the aid of professional drivers in need.