This story comes from our friends Grace and Steven of FEDES in Chile:

Francisca is 89 years old. She lives with her son. Twenty years ago she fell from a considerable height at the fruit processing factory where she was employed. She broke her hip and knees, and suffered head injuries. Since then she’s been unable to walk normally. Usually she uses crutches, but 5 years ago she started having severe kidney problems and her legs swell - making it even harder to walk, even with the crutches. After her legs had been swollen for about a month she was experiencing a lot of pain so she went to the local medical center where there was just a medical student in attendance. He told her to bandage her legs up tightly. However, after some thought, she replied that she didn’t think she should do it, as it would probably cut off the circulation and she could lose her legs. When a nurse arrived she explained that Francisca was right and it was good she had educated herself on the topic.

She wouldn’t stop thanking us for the wheelchair and for thinking of her. She had felt so lonely and missed the companionship of her friends and now she can go to have tea with them, converse, play guitar, and enjoy everything else she can still do. She was especially happy as it had been over a year that she hadn’t gone to the senior citizen’s club where they meet to sing and have a time of fellowship.

In spite of all she’s been through, though, Francisca hasn’t lost her sense of humor and sweetness. The director of the Santa Inez Senior Citizen’s Club, Mr. Alicia, told us “Francisca is an example to all of us of joy, sacrifice and devotion. She’s the most supportive person I’ve ever met and is always volunteering to help her neighbors.”

Our splendid partner CV Vadavana of Sathyam Trust in India is hosting our 500,000^th wheelchair mission trip. It started here 10 years ago, so we thought it fitting to go back to our roots to commemorate this milestone. CV chose the city of Kottaya in Kerala, near his home. It was a significant celebration, even by Indian standards. He had 1,100 wheelchairs lined up on one side of the city square.  We were entertained by bands, dance teams, and solo vocalists. These were not the typical performers of the region; each participant had overcome their own physical disadvantage. What better way to celebrate our milestone with an unforgettable expression to the Indian culture: people with disabilities accomplishing magnificent feats of talent. The afternoon was a performance about overcoming disabilities by those who have done so, and the theater was lined with the tools to bring opportunities to more yet-to-be discovered sous.

To add to the significance of the afternoon, CV arranged for keynote speakers from Hindu, Islam, and three different versions of Christianity (Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, and Pentecostal). All spoke to the hearts of those with disability. All had worked together with Sathyam Ministries to help the disabled.  

Some of the hundreds of organizations that Sathyam Ministries partners to distribute wheelchairs all over India stood ready with their trucks to take only a few or as many as 50 GEN_1 and GEN_2 wheelchairs back to their districts.   

Our 500,000^th wheelchair recipient is Marion Joseph. She had huge inflamed calluses on her palms from using a stick to balance her gait during her journey to get her wheelchair. She is 39 years old. She has lived for 17 years in the St. Thomas Asylum Home for disabled people. She is learning to sew so she can be a tailor.   

Thousands watched this glorious event. We had the privilege to represent you there, you, our supporters who make this possible. You have given over 60,000 wheelchairs to people who need them in India. India now has both number 1 and number 500,000.  

This story comes from Robert K. of Giving it Back to Kids. They are one of our major distribution partners in Viet Nam.

Luong Chieu is 80 years old. I thought there was some senility or mental issues besides his paralysis as he wore a big toothless smile, waved his hands furiously and said, "Hello". Is this normal? Luing’s mind was keen. He just was happy! He didn’t have anything, and even his health was bad, he was just happy.

He served in the South Vietnamese Army from 1959 to 1975. He worked the Seabee base near Danang. He was one of the unfortunates caught in the departure of our military and was sent to camps to help him to rethink his beliefs of freedom from the communist government.

He smiled and told me "I have 12 children! And can't remember exactly 50-60 grandkids and great grandkids! My oldest son is now 60!" Loung had a stroke 3 years ago and has not been out of the house since! I asked several times what will you do first. He kept waving his hand to show he is just going outside and around the neighborhoods. Simply be outside.

Thank you, Free Wheelchair Mission, for this opportunity to meet a man like this. He showed me a lot in just short time.  

This story comes from Jacob, a friend of Free Wheelchair Mission who was recently in Uganda on a mission trip:

I want to tell you about a young man I met near the town of Soroti. One day when he was about the age of 12, he was playing with a soccer ball in a field outside his house. While running at a full sprint, he clipped a metal rod with the corner of his head. He was knocked unconscious, and when he collapsed, both of his legs came to lie in an open fire pit. The fire pit is the place where his family prepares their hot meals.

His mother was the first to his rescue. After smelling the burning flesh, she rushed to him and promptly took him to the nearby hospital. The town doctor didn't have the resources to treat a burn victim of this magnitude, and the only affordable option was to amputate both of his legs.

I had the opportunity to meet this young man seven years after the incident. Now, at the age of 19, a double amputee, he was only able to move around through the use of his hands, and what was left of his legs. He was void of the simple luxuries his classmates enjoyed - walking, kicking the soccer ball, and so much more. However, on the day we met, his life again took a drastic turn. On this day, he received a wheelchair.   He once again discovered one of life's greatest and most simple pleasures - mobility. Excitement filled the air, as he began to strike a soccer ball with a wooden stick. He was elated to be his own individual once again.

This experience marked the first wheelchair I had ever been able to help give away, and it was one of the most gratifying moments of my life. I will forever be thankful for the tremendous experience that day offered. It was a story I never could have imagined, and a moment that continues to put life in perspective for me.

Thank you for all the hard work that you and the rest of the Free Wheelchair Mission team are doing. You are truly making a difference. I know that on that warm summer day in Uganda, you not only changed this young man’s life, but you changed mine as well.

Our good friends and partners, Francis and Adrienne, operate a wonderful organization in Uganda called Father's Heart Mobility Ministry. I’d like to share with you two of their testimonies:

"I go to school and am in P1 but it has been difficult since it is 1km away and I can't walk. I even can't play with my fellow pupils at school since I can't walk. But now with this wheelchair I will begin playing well and I will have much courage in my education. My parents are in the choir at church and now I hope to also join.  When I grow up I want to join your company so that I can also help others as you did to me today. Thank you so much." 

~ Wakire Walter, 8 years old, born with paralyzed legs.


"My life is so difficult so I need a wheelchair to help me move. Right now I am living with my last born son and I only stay at home all the time. I feel so bad when I am disturbing my own son to be carrying me out to the bathroom. Now with this wheelchair I can go to church. Thank you for helping me and I pray you will continue helping others."  
  
~ Ewil Dorine, 80 years old, dislocated/fractured hip.   

I have big news! We now have a new record for our youngest Ambassador, a very generous two-year-old named Chase. An "Ambassador" is someone who raises funds for Free Wheelchair Mission. Here is Chase's story:

Recently, Chase’s parents requested a copy of our book. They probably placed it on their coffee table, a perfect spot for it. Well, the book caught Chase’s attention. Lindsay, Chase’s mother, helped explain the book to him. She told her son how Free Wheelchair Mission collects money to send these wheelchairs all around the world. Chase responded that he wanted to collect “monies” for wheelchairs too! He got started by finding the largest jar and emptying into it all the change bowls from around the house. Then, he set up his change collection jar and FWM information right by the door. But Chase wanted to do even more. He asked everyone in his family for help. He asked everyone who came to the house to contribute. He even got the air conditioning repair man to make a contribution! By the time Chase was through, he had raised 18 wheelchairs... all through the power of a strong vision, a serious mission... and the irresistible charm of an adorable 2-year-old.



Want to inspire the children in your life to learn about disability in the developing world?

• View our Free Wheelchair Mission video that’s made just for kids!
• And, check out Change for Wheels, a great way for children to help people with disabilities.. by turning change into wheels!

This story comes from our partner in Colombia:

Sometimes getting the wheelchairs out is an adventure. Check out these photos and an amazing story from FUNDACIÓN CAMINOS POR COLOMBIA in Colombia. 

As the Run for Mobility Coordinator, I’ve had the pleasure of working with all kinds of athletes leading up to our event this weekend - February 4-6, 2011, in Huntington Beach, CA.

Runners connect with Free Wheelchair Mission in all sorts of ways – many are regular  Surf City USA® Marathon or half marathon runners who have seen our wheelchair or heard about us at the race in previous years. Others are ongoing friends of Free Wheelchair Mission who decide to take up our cause as yet another way to show their support of our mission. Some are attempting their very first half or full marathon, and want to make their miles matter for more than just themselves. Others still have personally experienced life in a wheelchair (or have loved ones who have), and have a deep appreciation for the fact they are physically able to run, and want to run in support of those who aren’t as blessed as they are.

Whether weekend warriors, moms on a mission, families looking to be more fit, students for change, or running hobbyists, all these runners have one thing in common – they have the drive, compassion, and determination to make positive changes in the lives of others. They have made the decision to run the Surf City USA® race, raise the funds for Free Wheelchair Mission, and change lives through the gift of mobility all around the world.

I have been inspired by countless runners over the last few months, and wanted to share just a few of the simple yet powerful stories that I have come across in the months leading up to the event this weekend.

“It's easy to take life for granted; to take my legs for granted. It's time I help others who aren't so fortunate.”
– Christina, Run for Mobility fundraiser and Surf City USA® runner

“This is my first half marathon am so excited to be a part of this. This charity makes my participation even more exciting and meaningful!”
– Shara, Run for Mobility fundraiser and Surf City USA® runner

“I am so blessed to be able to walk, or even run when I want to….. I am part of the Run for Mobility so that others who can't run can have the mobility they deserve.”
– Kris, Run for Mobility fundraiser and Surf City USA® runner

So far, our 460 Run for Mobility runner-fundraisers have raised over $155,000 – that’s 2,618 wheelchairs. I encourage those of you who aren’t running this weekend to show your support for those who are!

I look forward to seeing you this weekend! If you aren't able to attend this event but would like to help support those who can, CLICK HERE.

Thank you,
Ariel Rigney
Run for Mobility Coordinator, FWM

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

This story comes from our good friends and partners of Giving It Back to Kids in Viet Nam. 

Chai is a sixty seven year old man living with his wife in a small village in Mo Duc District, Quang Ngai Province. Chai lost his legs in the US/Viet Nam War. He uses his hands to crawl on the ground. Chai said his wife suffered brain damage in a terrible accident three years ago that left her not able to walk or move. Before his wife’s accident, their life was not this bad because she was good at farming and selling their farming products. After the accident, Chai had to take over, doing some farming right in his garden with two big pieces of wood he used like miniature crutches. He carried his vegetables on his back to the market. He said sunny days were ok, but in the rainy season few people bought his stuff. Most of them tried their best to keep away from him because walking with hands made mud splash all over his body and his vegetables. Sadly Chai shared “The kids and even some adults in the village call me Muddy Man.”

(Photo: See how nicely the GEN_2 footrests support his legs.)

Sitting on the wheelchair, the poor old man couldn’t hold the tears from falling on his face of happiness. “From now on, my life will change totally. I’m sure I will make more money with my farming work. I want to save up to buy a hearing aid for my wife so that she can hear me and we can talk. This wheelchair is out of my imagination! I’m feeling like I have my two legs back. It is very easy to move. I’m so happy! “From now on people will not call me Muddy Man any more!

This story comes from Hap and Kathy, friends right in our back yard of Orange County. There are people just a couple hundred miles from us who need wheelchairs, and this is a story about just one man.

In preparation for a New Years trip to San Feliepe, Mexico, I assembled a wheelchair I picked up at the Free Wheelchair Mission office in Irvine, CA. On the trip down to Mexico I informed my friends Brenda, Tracy, Rick, Marty, Mike, and Rus that I was bringing the wheelchair to give to a local who was in need. They all kept there eyes open for someone.

On January 1st they spotted an older man crossing the street with crutches that looked like they were pulled from the dump. His name was Victor, a sixty year-old San Feliepe native who spent most of his life as a ranch hand.   With his leg that seemed to be stricken with polio and being partially deaf and blind he could no longer work. We pulled the wheelchair out of the truck and spent twenty minutes getting Victor familiar with his new wheelchair and he was on his way.  Moments later Mike and Rus decided they wanted to give Victor some money and a shirt; it was a divine idea because Victor was at a hill and needed assistance. They pushed him to the top, gave him the money and shirt and said farewell. 

God smiled on Victor on this New Years Day with the gift of mobility. You too can bring a smile to someone’s face with the gift of mobility.

This story comes from one of our partners in Sudan called Bob Charity:

All our recipients were ecstatic to receive a wheelchair, because they were desperately in need of it but could not afford it. All of them waited an extensive time, hoping that they would receive this blessed gift. They all prayed and promised to be in continuous prayer for whomever helped to obtain the chairs. However, I was particularly impressed and touched by:

A fatherless young boy, about five years old. When he first sat in the chair, he refused to let go. His confidence rose so greatly, that he said to his mother “Bye Mom!”

An elderly lady was speechless with bliss and simply burst into tears of joy and embraced me tightly.

A young school girl recited a poem on the occasion of receiving the wheelchair. The poem was all about how the wheelchair changed her life dramatically and relieved her father who used to carry her on his back to and from school every day.

One crippled man said “I can now move freely and on my own. I can even go to church on Sundays.” This view was shared by others who practiced different and similar religions. One man was so extremely joyful that he stated that he sings well and promised he would sing for us whenever we would ask him to do so.

The people who were involved in distributing were all University graduates who volunteered for this time consuming job. I noticed some special expressions of joy. Some couldn’t control their emotions. They just simply cried when they saw how relieved and happy all of the recipients were. One volunteer stated that when he saw a child on a chair going to school, the hairs on his arms stood up and he had goose bumps from how extremely happy he was to witness it.

This story comes from our good friends at Sathyam Truth Ministries, our partners in India. Over 60,000 wheelchairs have been distributed to India through this partnership:

Antony worked as a construction worker to support his mother after his father had died. With his mother being sick, it was by the grace of God that they were able to pay their bills monthly.

In June 2000, Antony was working at a school building. As they were rushing to finish the job, Antony slipped from the second floor of the building down to the first. Everyone thought that he had died until they begin to hear him moan from the pain. His co-workers took him to the hospital where they discovered that his spinal cord was severely injured and that his legs were paralyzed.

Unable to work, Antony’s elderly mom had to take on a job to support the two of them. This broke Antony’s heart and led him into a state of depression. He began to pray to God for help. Soon after, he found out about the wheelchair distribution that was supported by Sathyam Truth Ministries International partnered with Free Wheelchair Mission. After filling out an application, he received his wheelchair.

Even though Antony was not able to return to his job as a construction worker, his wheelchair made it possible for him to do odd jobs that would help pay for his medicine. Life began to look more optimistic to Antony. He met a godly woman whom he married and was able to experience joy despite his circumstances.