Matthew Plum, The Examiner
2006-10-17 09:00:00.0
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Harford County -

Local magicians David Breth and Lindy Scarborough are bringing magic to disabled patients in area hospitals through Project Magic, a program developed by celebrity magician David Copperfield.

They performed at Edgewood Assembly of God in Harford County on Saturday.

Project Magic, a program developed by Copperfield in 1982, was founded in an effort to “strengthen dexterity and motor skills in disabled patients,” according to Copperfield’s Web site, www.davidcopperfield.com.

The program is accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association and is used in thousands of hospitals worldwide.

Breth opened the Maryland chapter of Project Magic about 10 years ago, around the same time he became a professional full-time magician.

“It’s not about teaching [patients] a trick; it’s about teaching them the dexterity behind the trick,” Breth, 34, said.

Patients who lack in motor skills improve, while patients who suffer from mental illness are given something to focus on.

Breth said tricks like the “jumping rubber band,” in which patients magically manipulate a rubber band on their index and middle fingers, occupy patients with something other than their illness.

Having already brought Project Magic to Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, Breth and Scarborough are in the process of reaching out to other hospitals in the area, including Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital and Upper Chesapeake Health in Harford.

Kim Lovett, spokeswoman for Upper Chesapeake, said Project Magic “might be a good fit” among Upper Chesapeake’s complimentary therapies program.

“[We appreciate] anything that can make the patient feel more comfortable,” Lovett said.

Upper Chesapeake’s current complimentary therapies include programs such “The Healing Clown,” massage therapy and “The Nurturing Touch,” which is a form of massage therapy, pet visitation and spiritual therapy.

mplum@baltimoreexaminer.com