Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Gives Back to Charitable Man March 26th  3/20/06

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"EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION" GIVES BACK TO A MAN WHO HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO HELPING OTHERS

"Harrison Family" - With the help of grateful friends and neighbors, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" gives back to Gordon Harrison, a master carpenter who has spent his life giving to others in his community, and to his family, SUNDAY, MARCH 26 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET). (Rebroadcast. OAD 10/9/05)

Just one month after Gordon finally mustered up the courage to start his own cabinetry business, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, however, he used his time in the hospital to plan something special for his neighbors, The Gandys. Now everyone on the Harrisons' street wants to pay him back for all that his family has done in the neighborhood.

While undergoing chemotherapy, Gordon spent his days thinking of ways to remodel his neighbors' kitchen. He spent almost a year enlisting the help of other neighbors and community members, and even contacted vendors to donate materials, pulling off his own version of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

Taken by this gesture of kindness and selflessness, Gordon's neighbors have rallied together to show the Harrisons that doing nice things for others always comes back in the end, but they need help in pulling off something extraordinary. Because he has spent his time building for others, Gordon's is the last house to ever get repairs or updates, and it's falling apart.

Gordon's continued battle with cancer - there's still a tumor growing near his liver - has led him to the mantra he's passed on to everyone he meets: "Do it now. There may be no tomorrow." He himself only has a 50/50 chance of survival and doesn't know what the future will bring, but he's determined to live out his days giving back to others. Those whose lives he has touched are determined to fix his house so he doesn't have to worry about his family, should he lose his life.

It's up to "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," along with local builder Okland Construction, to "Do it now" and help get a fellow master craftsman back in business and into the home he deserves.

While the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" design team, contractors and hundreds of workers and volunteers are transforming the Harrisons' house into a dream home, they will go on vacation to Mission Bay San Diego.

The design team for this episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" will feature team leader Ty Pennington, as well as Paige Hemmis, Ed Sanders, Eduardo Xol and Michael Moloney. The series is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It's executive-produced by Tom Forman and co-executive produced by Denise Cramsey.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is broadcast with Spanish subtitles via secondary closed captioning. This program carries a TV-PG parental guideline.

Source: ABC Press Release

see also:

10/11/05 Extreme Makeover Home Edition Helps Bakersfield Widow October 23rd

10/3/05 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Goes Back to Camp October 16th