impact of mobilityin Southeast Asia“The Wheelchair Foundation is here this morning to provide hope, mobility and freedom. Vietnamhas suffered from decades of war and economic problems, and there are at least 100,000 people herewithout mobility. Let me tell you about a 17-year-old girl named Nghia. Six months ago, this beau-tiful and charming girl had to be carried everywhere she went by her father and mother. She wasdisabled by polio and had no money for a wheelchair. Last March when we were here, we gaveNghia a new wheelchair. Yesterday, I spent two hours having tea and visiting with her family.Nghia now wheels herself to school and to the market, and goes outside to be with her friends. Sheis studying English and math and wants to be a doctor. She is an inspiration to us all. We are blessed

to be able to help more than 10,000 people a month around the world that are in the same situationas Nghia. These wheelchairs are a small token of friendship from our country to yours, and all we ask

of you in return is a smile.”—Excerpt from a speech by Wheelchair Foundation President David Behring in Hanoi, Vietnam

S P R I N G 2 0 0 4

T H E W O R L DChanging

I N S I D E

Impact of Mobility in Southeast Asia . . . . . . . .1

A Message from Ken Behring . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Mission and Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

International Board of Advisors . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Wheelchair Foundation Newslines . . . . . . . . . .5

Sharing the Sunshine in China . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

St. Lucia: Angels Come in Many Forms . . . . . . .7

Photo Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8–9

Hope for the Hopeless in Angola . . . . . . .12–13

Jamaica: Million Dollar Moments . . . . . . . . . .14

Global Team Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

CHANGING LIVES IN VIETNAM.

E S T A B L I S H E D J U N E 2 0 0 0

A B O U T U S

2 S p r i n g 2 0 0 4 w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g

We are learning so much every day fromthe people receiving our wheelchairs.When a woman tells us that the mobilitywe are providing is like “a pair of warmhands from across the ocean,” or a 13-year-old girl says her wheelchair is “a beam ofsunshine that warms my heart,” these arewords that make all of our efforts so satis-fying. Meeting people who have onlydreamed of mobility gives us a great per-spective on the importance of our work,when we can make their dreams come true.

In the course of personally meeting the recipients of our wheel-chairs, I have been thanked, embraced and blessed thousands oftimes over by people throughout the world who have never hadmuch of a life without a wheelchair. This is the most wonderful feel-ing to me, and I encourage everyone to participate in this humani-tarian effort of delivering a tangible, life-changing wheelchair thatcan provide instant independence and dignity to another humanbeing. We have heard so many stories about children who are nowgoing to school, adults having jobs and being able to care for theirfamilies and the elderly who can attend worship services or just gooutside for the first time in years.

I must thank the thousands of individuals, groups and organiza-tions that are helping us get our message out. A wheelchair doesimmediately change the life of a person that might otherwise be dis-carded by society. These efforts have contributed to a global aware-ness about the abilities and needs of people with physical disabilities,and the wonderful experience of actually giving a person their ownnew wheelchair.

One of the most touching experiences when delivering wheel-chairs is having a person realize that someone does care about them.I look forward to shaking the hands of every recipient when I attenda wheelchair distribution because I receive a gift of joy equal totheirs. I feel the barriers of language and culture disappear when Ilook into their eyes and see their lives changed and their dreamsbecoming reality. I sincerely believe that this type of connectionbetween people creates the kind of trust and friendship that can elim-inate conflicts between cultures and societies.

Thank you for joining me in our mission of peace and friendship.

Kenneth E. BehringFounder & Chairman of the Board

Changing the World is published four times a year by the Wheelchair Foundation, 3700

Blackhawk Plaza Circle, Danville, California 94506 USA. Copyright 2004 Wheelchair

Foundation. All rights reserved. Volume 6, issue 1. Written and edited by Chris Lewis,

Director of Public Education. Contributing writers Scott McRae and Matt Montague.

www.wheelchairfoundation.org

A MESSAGE FROM KEN BEHRING

Our MissionThe Wheelchair Foundation is a nonprofit organ-ization leading an international effort to createawareness of the needs and abilities of peoplewith physical disabilities, to promote the joy ofgiving, create global friendship, and to deliver awheelchair to every child, teen and adult in theworld who needs one, but cannot afford one. Forthese people, the Wheelchair Foundation deliversHope, Mobility and Freedom.

Our GoalOver the next five years, the WheelchairFoundation aims to deliver 1 million wheelchairsto people who cannot afford to buy one, and tofurther the awareness that a wheelchair is nolonger an unaffordable relief option for deliveryto developing countries around the world.

MobilitySince its establishment on June 13, 2000, theWheelchair Foundation has witnessed tens ofthousands of examples of how mobility createsindependence and new possibilities for recipientsand their families. A mobile child is able to attendschool. A mobile adult is able to get a job andprovide for their family, or care for the children athome so their spouse can work. An elderly personcan rejoin society or family activities after years ofstaying in a bed. The joy and hope that a simplemobility device can deliver, is what gives people anew outlook on life and hope for the future.m

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A B O U T U S

w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g C h a n g i n g t h e Wo r l d 3

The establishment of the Wheelchair Foundation marks the most recentchapter in Kenneth E. Behring’s philanthropic efforts to improve the livesof disadvantaged people around the world.

From his successful career as an automobile dealer in Wisconsin, Ken entered the world of real-estate development in the 1960s. Over the course of the next 35 years, his companies created numerous plannedcommunities in Florida and California, including the world-renownedBlackhawk development near San Francisco.

After purchasing the Seattle Seahawks football team in 1988, Kenestablished the Seattle Seahawks Charitable Foundation, which benefitednumerous children’s charities. The Seahawks Foundation was the mostsubstantial donor to the Western Washington Muscular DystrophyAssociation for many years.

Ken Behring founded the Blackhawk Museum and the Behring-HofmannEducational Institute in Blackhawk, California, to benefit the San FranciscoEast Bay region. In 1997, he pledged $20 million to the SmithsonianMuseum of Natural History, and in 2000, he pledged an additional $80

million to rebuild the Smithsonian’s National Museum of AmericanHistory. For only the fourth time in the Smithsonian’s 170-year history,the prestigious James Smithson Award was bestowed on Behring in recognition of his generosity and vision. The Blackhawk Museum is nowan affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and hosts Smithsonian exhibits.

During his years of travel around the world, Ken has made it his personal mission to help those in need. His donations of food, medicalsupplies, clothing, toys and educational materials have helped people in some of the most impoverished nations on earth. His first-handinvolvement has given him a realistic picture of how much help is needed worldwide.

In 1999, Ken donated shipments of wheelchairs to relief organizationsin Eastern Europe and Africa. His personal contact with the recipientsgave him a greater understanding of how much hope and happiness canbe given to a person who receives a wheelchair. In the following months,he traveled the world delivering wheelchairs to numerous countries. OnJune 13, 2000 (his birthday), the Wheelchair Foundation was establishedat a ceremony in Washington, DC.

Since June of 2000, Ken has tirelessly traveled the world deliveringtens of thousands of wheelchairs to the disabled citizens of five conti-nents. The relationships he has developed with world leaders have led to agreater awareness of the needs and abilities of the physically disabled,and are a great force in propelling the mission of the WheelchairFoundation. In 2002, Ken was awarded an honorary doctorate by BrighamYoung University for his worldwide charitable efforts.

Ken and Patricia, his wife of 54 years, reside in Blackhawk, California.They have five sons and ten grandchildren.

Kenneth E. Behring

“When I see the happiness in the eyes ofthe people who get a wheelchair, I feelthat this is the greatest thing I have everachieved in my life.” —Kenneth E. Behring

THE OVERWHELMINGNEED FOR WHEELCHAIRS

• People require the use of a wheelchair for many reasons: accidents, birth defects, war injuries, debilitating diseases and advanced age.

• One of the most horrific causes of disability world-wide can be attributed to landmines or unexploded ordnance (UXO). According to the World Health Organi-zation (WHO), every year, more than 29,000 people areinjured by landmines or UXO around the world. Thisnumber does not include those that are killed by theexplosions.

• An estimated 100–150 million disabled people world-wide need wheelchairs, though less than 1 percent own or have access to one. The number of physicallydisabled is likely underestimated, due to the difficultyin accounting for “forgotten” citizens who spend theirlives hidden from sight.

• It is estimated that the number of people who needwheelchairs will increase by 22 percent over the next 10 years, with the greatest need existing in developing countries.

• In developing countries, only a small percentage of those who need wheelchairs have them, forcingdependence upon family and friends to get around. For others, the only way to get around is to crawl, or lie in a bed or corner of a room for years at a time.

• Despite tremendous efforts of many relief organiza-tions, they are still not sufficient to meet the over-whelming need. Traditionally there have been threewheelchair delivery options—sadly, none of which isadequate for a country’s poorest disabled citizens:

>> Wheelchairs available in the West: The most basic durable wheelchair with similar features to thetype we deliver costs from $375 to $500, not includ-ing shipping charges. This sum is out of reach for most disabled people in developing countries. InVietnam, for example, a disabled person may earnabout $30 a month—if she or he is able to work.

>> Refurbished wheelchairs: There are several organizations that refurbish and distribute wheelchairsvery professionally and responsibly. Unfortunately, theirefforts cannot hope to meet the overwhelming need.

>> Wheelchairs manufactured in country: Some devel-oping countries have domestic wheelchair manufactur-ing operations. But the wheelchairs still must be soldto disabled citizens and are almost always too expen-sive for the destitute.

• The wheelchairs provided by the Wheelchair Foundationare purchased in bulk from Chinese manufacturers, anddesigned to be the best possible solution in developingcountries. They cost $150 each, delivered by a 280-wheelchair container, and are offered free to thosemost in need. Each donation of $75 will be matchedby the Wheelchair Foundation, with funds providedspecifically for that purpose, to deliver a wheelchair.$21,000 will deliver an entire 280-wheelchair container.

A B O U T U S

4 S p r i n g 2 0 0 4 w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g

PRINCE ALEXANDER & PRINCESSKATHERINE OF YUGOSLAVIA

CARL A. ANDERSON Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus

ROBERT M. BERDAHL Chancellor, University of California at Berkeley

RUTH CORREA LEITE CARDOSO, PH.D.Former First Lady of Brazil

JOEL EHRENKRANZEhrenkranz & Ehrenkranz, New York

PROFESSOR SIR HARRY FANG, M.D.Chairman, Council for Physically & Mentally Disabled,

Hong Kong

MARY FLAKE DE FLORESFirst Lady of Honduras

LOURDES RODRIGUEZ DE FLORESFirst Lady of El Salvador

WHITEY FORDBaseball Hall of Fame

MARTHA SAHAGUN FOXFirst Lady of Mexico

IMANTS FREIBERGSFirst Gentleman of Latvia

VALERY GISCARD D’ESTAINGFormer President of France

SUSANA GALLI DE GONZALEZ MACCHI First Lady of Paraguay

MIKHAIL GORBACHEVFormer President of the USSR

DOUG HEIRPresident of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association

KENNETH HOFMANNOakland Athletics Baseball Team

TIM HONEYExecutive Director, Sister Cities International

JACK KEMPFormer U.S. Representative & Secretary of

Housing and Urban Development

MRS. ANDREE LAHOUDFirst Lady of Lebanon

JERRY LEWISEntertainer/Humanitarian

GRACA MACHELFormer First Lady of Mozambique/Mrs.Nelson Mandela

NELSON MANDELAFormer President of South Africa

ED MCMAHONRadio & Television Personality

ANNA MKAPAFirst Lady of Tanzania

MIREYA MOSCOSOPresident of Panama

WAYNE NEWTONEntertainer, Las Vegas, NV

MARIA ISABEL BAQUERIZO DE NOBOA Former First Lady of Ecuador

SAMUEL NUJOMAPresident of Namibia

STELLA OBASANJOFirst Lady of Nigeria

DEAN ORNISH, M.D.President & Director, Preventive Medicine

Research Institute. UCSF

JACK PALLADINOPalladino & Sutherland, San Francisco

ARNOLD PALMERProfessional Golfer/Business Executive

LIBBY PATAKIFirst Lady of New York

EVELYN DE PORTILLOFirst Lady of Guatemala

DENG PUFANGChairman, China Disabled Persons’ Federation

VIRGINIA GILLUM DE QUIROGAFormer First Lady of Bolivia

PRINCE RAAD & PRINCESS MAJDARAAD OF JORDAN

GENERAL JOSEPH W. RALSTONUnited States Air Force-Ret.

FIDEL RAMOS Former President of the Philippines

CATHERINE B. REYNOLDSAmerican Academy of Achievement/CEO of Educap Inc.

STEFANO RICCIClothing Designer

NANCY RIVARDExecutive Director, Airline Ambassadors

LORENA CLARE FACIO DE RODRIGUEZECHEVERRIA

Former First Lady of Costa Rica

ANNA ELEANOR ROOSEVELTCo-Chair - Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, New York

CHRISTOPHER J. ROSA, PH.D.Director, Services for Students with Disabilities -

Queens College, Flushing, NY

YOSHIAKI SAKURAChairman, Kosaido, Japan

ANA PAULA DOS SANTOSFirst Lady of Angola

DON SHULANFL Coach/Entreprenuer

LAWRENCE SMALLSecretary, Smithsonian Institute

RT. HON. SIR MICHAEL SOMAREPrime Minister, Papua New Guinea

CATHERINE STEVENSAlaska & Washington, DC

VIVIANE WADEFirst Lady of Senegal

ABBAS I. YOUSEFASI Agricultural Services & Investments

HONORARY MEMBERS

JOE BACAU.S. Representative, D- California

HERBERT G. BROWNClearwater, Florida

MAX CLELANDFormer U. S. Senator, D-Georgia

FRANK J. DEVLYNDevlyn Optical, Mexico City

CLIFF DOCHTERMANMoraga, California

ANNA G. ESHOOU.S. Representative, D-California

DIANNE FEINSTEINU.S. Senator, D-California

WILLIAM H. FRISTU.S. Senator, R-Tennessee

BENJAMIN A. GILMANU.S. Representative, R-New York

DANIEL INOUYEU. S. Senator, D-Hawaii

RICHARD D. KINGKing, King, & King, Pleasanton, California

KEN LANCASTERState Representative, R-Alaska

JAMES R. LANGEVINU.S. Representative, D-Rhode Island

STEVE LARGENTFormer U.S. Representative, R-Oklahoma

NANCY PELOSIU.S. Representative, D-California

TED STEVENSU.S. Senator, R-Alaska

ELLEN TAUSCHERU.S. Representative, D-California

TOM TORLAKSONState Senator, D-California

KING JUAN CARLOS & QUEEN SOFIA OF SPAIN, Co-Chairmenin

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w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g C h a n g i n g t h e Wo r l d 5

Afghanistan .............5,890Albania ......................550Algeria .......................640Angola ....................3,240Argentina ................1,971Armenia ..................2,124Bahamas ...................640Bangladesh ...............240Belarus ......................490Belgium .....................280Belize .........................800Bolivia ....................2,294Bosnia & Herzegovina ........... 1,010Botswana ...................350Brazil ......................1,815Bulgaria .....................250Burundi ......................240Cambodia ..................780Cape Verde ................726Central African Republic ....................240Chile .......................1,940China/Tibet ...........41,893Colombia ...................890Costa Rica ..............3,888Croatia .......................490Cuba .......................1,000Czech Republic ..........600DominicanRepublic ................ 5,272Ecuador ..................2,809Egypt .........................808El Salvador .............3,336Eritrea ........................250Estonia ......................250Ethiopia ..................1,888French Polynesia ........280Georgia ......................250Ghana .....................1,220Greece ........................240Guam .........................250Guatemala ..............3,476Haiti ........................1,091Holy See (Vatican City) ..........1,000Honduras ................2,784Hungary .....................120India .......................3,436Indonesia ................1,020Iran .........................2,160Iraq ............................840Israel ......................4,290Italy ........................1,018Jamaica ..................1,500Japan .........................750Jordan .....................1,200Kazakhstan ................730Kenya ......................1,760Korea, North ...............240Korea, South ...........4,120Kosovo ....................1,080Kyrgyzstan .................490

Laos ...........................780Latvia ........................240Lebanon ..................1,749Macedonia .................500Madagascar ...............500Malawi ....................1,920Malaysia .................1,980Malta .........................240Mexico ...................28,733Micronesia .................500Moldova .....................480Mongolia ....................540Montenegro ................120Morocco .....................240Mozambique ..............600Nepal ......................1,226Nicaragua ...............2,135Niger ..........................240Nigeria .......................780Pakistan ....................655Palestinians/Israel ..................... 1,965Panama ..................3,120Papua New Guinea ....740Paraguay ...................784Peru ........................3,589Philippines ..............1,510Poland .......................291Puerto Rico ................250Romania .................1,090Russia .......................700Rwanda .........................5Saint Lucia (UK) ........280Samoa ....................1,171Senegal ......................240Serbia ........................250Sierra Leone ............1,000Somalia .......................88South Africa ............2,460Spain .........................775Sri Lanka ...................240Sudan ........................200Suriname ...................240Swaziland ..................240Syria ............................88Taiwan .......................756Tajikistan ...................240Tanzania ....................568Thailand .................2,770Tonga .........................500Trinidad & Tobago ...1,320Turkey .....................1,520Turkmenistan .............240Uganda ...................1,784Ukraine ...................2,797United States ........16,219Uzbekistan .................990Venezuela ..................885Vietnam ..................2,779Virgin Islands (US) ....280Western Sahara .........153Zambia ......................120Zimbabwe ..................990

WHEELCHAIRSCOMMITTED OR DELIVERED SINCEJUNE 2000

For current totals visit wheelchairfoundation.org.

BAGHDAD, IRAQ: DECEMBER 16, 2003—Thefirst container of 280 wheelchairsfrom the Wheelchair Foundation wasreceived by the Life for Relief &Development agency working inpartnership with the newly estab-lished Iraqi Handicapped Society.This shipment was sponsored byRotary Clubs in the U.S. and Canada,and was transported by the U.S.Department of Defense. Wheelchairswere distributed to disabled Iraqis inBaghdad, Karbala and Tikrit, and thedelivery represents the first of fourcontainers sponsored by Rotarianscurrently en route to Iraq. It is esti-mated that there are nearly 7 millionlandmines separating the KurdishNorth from Southern Iraq, and thenumbers of people being injured bylandmines in this region are some ofthe highest in the world.

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: JANUARY 2004—The distribu-tion continues in 20 provincesthroughout Afghanistan. Five thou-sand wheelchairs sponsored by theChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-daySaints and the Knights of Columbushave been changing lives in Baghlan,Bamyan, Kandahar, Ghor and Takhar,to name a few. It is estimated thatnearly 10–15 percent of the popula-tion of Afghanistan have been injuredby landmines or unexploded ord-nance, and the delivery of these

wheelchairs is making life livable forchildren and adults without mobility.In taking a step back to evaluate themessage of peace and friendshipthat is evidenced by this gesture ofgiving, we must applaud LDSCharities and the Knights ofColumbus who have no agendaexcept to change the lives of our fel-low human beings. The cultural, reli-gious, tribal and language barriersmay never allow the recipients toknow who has made these lifesavingwheelchairs available to them. Butthe impact of making a better life fora person who suffers through dailyexistence, is a gift that is being givenwith selfless inspiration.

PRESCOTT, ARIZONA:DECEMBER 2003—Joanneand Jeff Robertson, owners of BigPicture Video Productions, were onceagain honored by the internationalTelly Awards for an outstanding videoproduction. Big Picture has createdall of the videos showcasing the workof the Wheelchair Foundation sinceits inception in June of 2000, takingJeff and his camera to over 60 coun-tries. To celebrate the 25th anniver-sary of the Telly Awards, there was aspecial one-time competition, the“Classic Telly,” honoring TV commer-cials, film and video of timelessquality—the best work of the past 25years. There were thousands ofentries for this award competitionrepresenting all 50 states and manycountries around the world. Big

Picture was awarded the “ClassicTelly” for the Wheelchair Foundationvideo “Lending a Hand in Papua NewGuinea.” The Wheelchair Foundationcongratulates Joanne and Jeff, andthanks them for their valuable contri-butions to our worldwide mission. Allof the Wheelchair Foundation videoscan be viewed on our website atwww.wheelchairfoundation.org.

BEIJING, CHINA:JANUARY 2004—In our continu-ing effort to help the nearly 35 millionpeople with physical disabilities inChina that are in need of a wheelchairbut cannot afford one, WheelchairFoundation Founder Ken Behring andthe Civil Affairs Ministry in Beijinghave signed a cooperative agreementthat will provide for the distribution of50,000 wheelchairs in the Beijing areaover the next five years. Similar agree-ments have been initiated inShanghai, Guang Zhou and numerousother provinces throughout China.Since September 2001, the ChinaDisabled Person’s Federation has beeninstrumental in assisting theWheelchair Foundation in our effortsthroughout China to get wheelchairsinto the hands of citizens that arewithout mobility or the means toacquire a wheelchair. Thousands ofstories are now being told of childrengoing to school, adults going to workand providing for their families andthe elderly once again being able torejoin society or just go outside afteryears of being bedridden.

TOTAL COUNTRIES . . . . . . . . . . . .120TOTAL WHEELCHAIRS . . . . . .225,614

GIRLS IN ANGOLA WALK MILESEACH DAY TO HELP THEIR FAMI-LIES MAKE ENDS MEET.

NOW THIS BOY FROM ST. LUCIACAN GO TO SCHOOL.

TODAY STARTS A NEW LIFE.

I N C H I N A

6 S p r i n g 2 0 0 4 w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g

During Ken Behring’s most recent visit to China in January 2004, he participated in wheelchair distribu-tions in several provinces. One particularly touching moment happened on January 7 when Zhou Li, a representative of the Harbin Daowai District Disabled Persons Association, read the following message afterreceiving her new wheelchair.

Dear Friends and Guests, I am so honored and excited to be here. On behalf of all the people who have received a

wheelchair from the Wheelchair Foundation, we offer our sincere thanks to Mr. Behring, hisFoundation team and to all the friends who have offered your warm hands to us—thank you!

We are a special group of people in society. Disasters and diseases have deprived us of walk-ing. We cannot walk nor live as normal people do. Our physical disabilities bring us unimagin-able difficulties in daily life, as well as great mental pain. But deep in our hearts, we are longingto live life as healthy and sound human beings! We dream that some day we can walk, we canmove ourselves to go outdoors, to have a look at the beauty of nature and our beautiful city; towitness the magnificent progress our country is making; and to say hello to the fast-changingworld. … Today our dreams are coming true! Thank you so much for bringing us the ability torealize our dreams, to achieve our mobility with the help of a wheelchair. This is such a won-derful experience for us, especially for those who have never walked or moved by themselvessince the day they were born! We feel the warmth and strength offered by a pair of warm handsfrom across the ocean, we feel the love and friendship coming from a worldwide family. We areso thankful and full of confidence! As disabled people, we can only hope to grow stronger, tobreak through the difficulties of life, and try to greet every day with a smiling face!

Thank you Mr. Behring and the Wheelchair Foundation, you are messengers of worldwidelove and friendship!

At the same distribution, Mr. Behring met a 13-year-old girl named Chengxin, who shared her story withseveral Wheelchair Foundation China team members.

Chengxin is a lovely 13-year-old girl with a smiling face. She contracted polio early in life and has nouse of her legs. She has a colorful dream for her life—about enjoying mobility in nature. This dreamcame true when she received a brand new wheelchair. In her excitement she told us, “My father usedto carry me to school every day on his back. As I grew heavier, I worried about him. Now I don’tneed to worry, I can even go out to enjoy a long walk with my parents.” She continued, “ The great-est thing is that I can now move anytime I want, and I don’t need to stay in the classroom all daylong. With the help of my friends, I can now go outside to enjoy my break time like they do. I willnever forget Mr. Behring, he is just like my grandfather,” she said with tears, “ and I have a dream. Iwant to study very hard, and when I grow up, I want to do the same kind of things for other disabledpeople like Mr. Behring has done for me. This wheelchair is not only a chair, it is a beam of sunshinethat warms my heart, and I want to share the sunshine with many people.” Her final words were, “Allchildren like me can help themselves by believing in our abilities, not our disabilities!”

TOP: MEETING EACH RECIPIENT OF A NEW WHEEL-CHAIR. CENTER: MR. BEHRING IS WELCOMED TOHARBIN. BOTTOM: ZHOU LI READING A MESSAGETO MR. BEHRING.

sharing the sunshine in China

You can help us get wheelchairs to the disabled in China!It is estimated that up to 35 million Chinese citizens are without mobility or the funds necessary to purchasea basic mobility wheelchair. It is the goal of the Wheelchair Foundation to educate American companies operating in China about the need for wheelchairs, and of the public relations value of sponsoring many thousands of wheelchairs that have their company logo stitched on the back of each one. $21,000 sponsorsa 280-wheelchair container anywhere in China.

PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!

I N S T. L U C I A

w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g C h a n g i n g t h e Wo r l d 7

On the Caribbean island of St. Lucia,located several hundred miles southand west of Puerto Rico, 280 physi-

cally disabled people are the proud owners ofbrand-new wheelchairs. They would not bewrong in thinking that their good fortune is ananswer to a prayer.

It’s also the answer to an e-mail.Sue Cook, the 2002–2003 Governor of

Canada’s Rotary District 7010, is an occupational therapist with a personal interestin mobility. While in San Antonio at the Rotary International convention in 2001,she heard founder Ken Behring speak about the Wheelchair Foundation. She wasinstantly intrigued.

The Wheelchair Foundation was a perfect fit for two of Cook’s leadership goals:(1) Make it easy for Rotarians to get involved in an international service project and(2) Choose a project that allowed hands-on experience and direct involvement withthe people who would benefit.

Cook returned to Canada, spread the Wheelchair Foundation message in District7010—which covers 44 Rotary clubs in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec—and wasrewarded with tears, excitement and eagerness. She’d found a receptive audience.

Clubs in District 7010 took up the cause and, with a matching grant from theRotary Foundation, raised the money for four containers of wheelchairs. SouthKorea, Uganda and Trinidad all received one container each. The fourth and finalcontainer, and its 280 wheelchairs, still needed a destination.

Fortunately for the disabled residents of St. Lucia, Marcus Day believes inanswering his e-mails.

Back in Canada, Cook was sending out inquiries to Rotary clubs in variousCaribbean countries, explaining the Wheelchair Foundation program and askingwho might be interested in receiving the 280 wheelchairs. The only response toCook’s e-mails was from Day, the director of Community Service for the 52-mem-ber Rotary Club of St. Lucia.

In November 2003, the container of wheelchairs arrived in St. Lucia. Soon to fol-low were 43 District 7010 Rotarians—who also brought along clothing and toys fororphanages and supplies for St. Lucia schools. The wheelchairs had a home, andRotarians and the Wheelchair Foundation had a lot of new friends. Here’s what

Cook and Day had to say about the experience:Marcus Day: “In the Caribbean, we have a tendency to

hide our disabled people. We started with a list of 150 to 160names, but as we went out and proactively searched for thedisabled, we more than doubled the list. It showed me that... hundreds of disabled people fall through the cracks.”

Sue Cook: “We went to a Seventh Day Adventist Churchand there was a dis-abled person sittingon the floor at thefront. She was carriedto the entrance of thechurch and put in awheelchair—and shewheeled herself downthe center aisle.Everyone startedsinging and dancing.The Rotarians whowitnessed this firsthand couldn’t talkabout it for two days.It was a very emo-tional experience.”

Marcus Day: Thegreat thing about awheelchair distribu-tion is that it gets theentire communityinvolved. We went toa couple of rough

neighborhoods and I was amazed at how well we werereceived. This big guy in one neighborhood told people inthe area, ‘Leave them alone. They’re delivering wheel-chairs.’ This was a wonderful demonstration of a countrycoming together.”

Sue Cook: “The people in St. Lucia have very strong fam-ily ties. It is part of their culture to take care of the family.One mother had carried her daughter around for 13 years.The great thing about a wheelchair project like this is theimmediate rewards.”

Marcus Day: “There was a boy who had to go to school ina wheelbarrow. When we arrived with his wheelchair, theteacher stopped the class. We gave the boy his brand-newwheelchair and his mates on the playground took him andstarted doing laps. He was reveling in the attention he wasgiven that special day.”

Sue Cook: “The residents here are a very religious people.Materially they would be considered poor, but spiritually theyare very rich. It was hard for them to believe that they wouldbe receiving a free wheelchair—it was considered a miracle.One wheelchair recipient said, ‘Angels come in many forms.’”

angels come in many forms

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ROTARIANSFROM DISTRICT 7010 IN ST. LUCIA; THEWELCOMING COMMITTEE; NOW HE CANLEAVE HIS HOUSE; LYNN STRICKLANDAND DISTRICT GOVERNOR CARL DICKSONCHANGING A LIFE IN ST. LUCIA.

8 S p r i n g 2 0 0 4 w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g

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ABOVE: >>> Landmines are a part of everyday life in many countries. BELOW LEFT: >>>Rotarian Phil Toohey delivers wheelchairs in Nepal. BELOW RIGHT: >>> Contra CostaProfessional Firefighters and Catholic Charities deliver wheelchairs sponsored by WellsFargo Bank.

w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g C h a n g i n g t h e Wo r l d 9

CLOCKWISE FROM

TOP LEFT: >>> Sheand her brother cannow play togetheroutside. >>> Sonsand daughters ofRotarians helpdeliver wheelchairs.>>> Celebration inCape Town. >>>Her first independ-ence. >>> PatriciaBehring makingfriends in SouthAfrica. >>> FirstLady of New YorkLibby Pataki withthen-Yankee second basemanAlfonso Soriano atan event to benefitthe residents of theDominicanRepublic. >>>School and inde-pendence are nowin her future.

1 0 S p r i n g 2 0 0 4 w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1

Asweeping five-nation Southeast Asia distribution tour nearthe end of 2003 left no doubt that the WheelchairFoundation’s mission continues to gain momentum as one of

the world’s brightest beacons, shining a message of hope into some ofthe world’s most distant corners.

The social and human impact of the 18-day mission was tremendous.“Because of my new wheelchair,” said a well-educated man disabled byParkinson’s disease, “I will be able to help humanity.”

The wheelchair distribution began October 26 in Cambodia, includ-ed stops in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, and ended November 13 inNepal. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rotary Clubsin Washington state, and the VNHelp organization sponsored thewheelchairs.

“We have had wonderful wheelchair distributions,” said GaryWinters, manager of Major Initiatives for LDS Charities, who made thetrip. “I think that we made a lot of friends for the Church and for theWheelchair Foundation.”

“We gave wheelchairs to polio victims and accident victims. … Thiswas their first wheelchair. It will make a great difference in their lives,not only for themselves but for their families.”

One of the guiding principles under which the Latter-day SaintsCharities operates, and one which is shared by the Wheelchair Foundation,is that it is a blessing to be able to assist others—as it is a blessing forthose who have been assisted to turn around and help someone else.

“We are very pleased to help introduce the Vietnamese culture toour new friends at the Wheelchair Foundation,” said Thu Do, executivedirector of VNHelp. “We are delivering 1,500 wheelchairs to Vietnam,but that is just the beginning of our collaboration to help as many of thephysically disabled throughout the country as possible.”

Improving Lives—One Wheelchair at a Time“Take a young man that is physically disabled,” said Winters. “You givehim a wheelchair and he becomes self-reliant. He goes to school andreceives an education. Once he has the education, he can give to oth-ers either by donation or by teaching the skills he has learned. We allneed to have ... somebody to lead the way, to set an example. One whoinspires someone else to go and do the same.

“Giving someone a wheelchair is a way of healing that person.Making the physically disabled mobile is like giving them a new life,”said Winters. “It sets them free.”

impact ofmobility in Southeast Asia

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Today in Southeast Asia, many people are experi-encing the sheer pleasure of freedom for the very firsttime. Vulng Sihung, an 18-year-old, and Noc Tu, a 20-year-old, have both been disabled since birth. And bothreceived their first taste of mobility—and of freedom—courtesy of the Wheelchair Foundation and its partners.

“Before the wheelchair, I would sit alone in oneplace,” said Vulng Sihung. “I couldn’t do anything. Istayed at home all day in a chair in a very smallhouse. There is no one to help me to go to school, soI never went.”

“Now, with the wheelchair, I will be able to gowhere I want to go.” On the way, he may cross pathswith Noc Tu, who said that she, too, is “going to goto school.”

Noc Tu’s father was equally thrilled when hisdaughter received her free wheelchair. “She cannotmove on her own,” said Dad. “All she could do wassit by herself until she was 10 years old. She was thenable to stand by age 12 ... but is still unable to walk.”

“I’m very happy and touched that my childreceived a wheelchair. On behalf of wheelchair recip-ients, I’d like to thank the LDS Church and theWheelchair Foundation. ... I don’t know what to saybut thank you.”

That “thank you” was more than sufficient. TheWheelchair Foundation and its many distributionpartners worldwide—including the Hanoi Women’sUnion, the Red Cross in Cambodia, the Foundationfor the Welfare of the Crippled in Thailand and theNational Rehabilitation Center in Laos—are justpleased that they can help.

Taking a Family ApproachIn a speech at a Hanoi distribution, Elder LorinBrown, the Asia Area Welfare Agent for the LDSChurch, said that 11 million members of the Churchcontribute funds so that LDS Charities can partici-pate in projects like a wheelchair distribution thathelp make people self-sufficient. Gary Winters laterexplained that the Charities’ logo depicts a family,because “we want to help families be more stable.”

A 39-year-old former construction worker needsno convincing that this commitment is real. While outchopping coconuts from a palm tree, the marriedfather of two fell and injured his spinal cord, and was left paralyzed from the waist down. His wifeworked while he was stuck at home, trying to help with their 12-year-old son and 5-year-old-daughter even though he was only able to movearound “very slowly.” There was no money for awheelchair and no possibility of receiving one, untilthe Wheelchair Foundation showed up.

“I am very happy to have this wheelchair,” he said.“My wife goes to work every day. Now, with thewheelchair, I will be able to look after the house.Thank you very much.”

In offering his personal thanks, this gentlemanwas actually speaking for hundreds of otherSoutheast Asians who have been disabled by injuryor disease, but have discovered the freedom andmobility a new wheelchair can offer. In manycases, a wheelchair allows the recipient to increasetheir wage-earning ability, or free the spouse to do

so, to the point that they will never be mired inpoverty again.

Much remains to be done, however. Tens of thou-sands of people in this part of the world remainimmobile, and are forced to carry the heavy weight ofthat reality every day of their lives.

But there is hope. Each day as the sun rises overSoutheast Asia, it is greeted by a growing number ofsmiling faces—the faces of those who have received anew wheelchair from the Wheelchair Foundation andits worldwide network of dedicated partners, andthose that know our commitment will keep us comingback to bring as many wheelchairs as possible intothe lives of those in need.

“We really appreciatethe warm hearts from

LDS Charities and theRotarians. I think thatthere are over 100,000

people in Hanoi that needa wheelchair. By receiving

a wheelchair, recipientswill now feel integrated

into society. This warmsmy heart.” —Phan Haoi Giang

Director of International Relations, Hanoi Women’s Union

OPPOSITE PAGE: >>> Rotar-ian Dick Knight witnessing“first mobility.” THIS PAGE,CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:>>> Rotarian Son MichaelPham in Hanoi. >>> LDSchurch official KathleenHughes enjoys the hands-onmission in Thailand. >>> Awheelchair changes lives ofentire families. >>> Tran ThiNghia and David Behring inHanoi. >>> A 5-year-old polio victim in Vietnam gets awheelchair from Thu Do andToan Tran of VNHelp.

1 2 S p r i n g 2 0 0 4 w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g

I N A N G O L A

hope for the hopeless

Angola is one of the world’s most poverty-stricken countriesafter many years of civil war, and has the dubious honor ofhaving the most physically disabled population on earth.

Unemployment runs 50 percent or higher and mobility can mean morethan being able to go outside or advance in society. It can mean the dif-ference between life and death.

ChevronTexaco and Rotary District 5810 from the Dallas, Texas,area joined forces with the Wheelchair Foundation in 2003 to sponsor960 wheelchairs for this West African nation. The joy and the appreci-ation of the recipients were “overwhelming.”

Daniel, age 7: A polio victim, Daniel was never able to get around on his ownbefore receiving his new wheelchair. Now, for the first time in his young life,Daniel is mobile. He is looking forward to going to school next year, and isthrilled to finally be able to get out and visit and play with his friends—insteadof spending day after day staying home alone.

In years past, wheelchairs destined for Angola were all distributed inand around Luanda, the country’s major port city. On this trip, theywere spread among seven different provinces. Helping with the distri-bution were Oran Bain, International Service Director for RotaryDistrict 5810, and the Wheelchair Foundation’s Joel Hodge.

“There are 4,000 people on the waiting list in the province ofKwanza Sul that are in need of a wheelchair, and thus far we’ve given80 wheelchairs to them,” said Bain. “We need to get some more wheel-

chairs to these people ... we need to helpthem as much as we can, especially becauseof the high number of polio victims that thevaccine is too late to help.”

Bain, who has traveled to six otherAfrican nations, calls Angola “the mostdepressed country I’ve ever seen.” Nearly20 percent of the residents are disabledand/or immobile, and diseases that havelong been eradicated in developed countries still take a heavy toll.Landmines and unexploded ordnance also ravage significant numbersof Angolans.

Segunda, age 4: This young girl’s family was living with double trouble.Segunda is disabled due to polio, but her father can’t do much to help her getaround because 14 years ago he lost the use of both legs when his vehicle hit alandmine. The family received two free wheelchairs and, needless to say, daugh-ter and father were “very, very thankful” for the new life that mobility wouldbring to them.

While distributing new wheelchairs and following up on recipientsfrom past distributions, Bain and Hodge visited the Funda Center forRehabilitation, a leper colony. The residents are virtual outcasts.Opportunity for a better life is a dream. And the disease itself causescirculatory problems in the extremities, so many in the camp don’t

w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g C h a n g i n g t h e Wo r l d 1 3

have hands and feet that work, or don’t havehands and feet at all. Life at the center wasabout as bleak as life can get—until a shipmentof wheelchairs was delivered in 2002.

Nevish: “I couldn’t walk because my legs are not wellenough to move. The wheelchair helps me a lot. …Now I can go to the river to take a shower, I can goto the kitchen to pick up food and I can go and visitmy neighbors. The wheelchair is helping me to survive.”

Joseph: This young man, who has had leprosy fornine years, lost a leg to the disease. “Before thewheelchair, I used some sticks to get around withgreat difficulty,” he said. “The wheelchair has helpedme. The wheelchair is very strong. … I’m so happyto have one.”

Bain found that most people in Angola arejust glad to be alive—so it’s no stretch to imag-ine the extreme happiness a disabled person inthis impoverished country might feel when he

or she receives a new wheelchair. One of thehardest things for them to reconcile in theirown minds is that someone thinks they are ofenough value to receive a free wheelchair,when their life has often been spent as an out-cast. The gestures of thanks that follow the giftare treasures for the soul.

For immobile Angolans, the WheelchairFoundation and partners like ChevronTexacoand Rotary District 5810 may represent theironly opportunity for hope and freedom.Purchasing a wheelchair is simply not an

option for the vast majority of people whoneed one. Those who have received a freewheelchair keep them in good shape, as thatwheelchair is both a source of transportationand perhaps the one positive in their lives.

“We visited the home of a young man whois 33 years old and had spinal meningitis whenhe was 2 years old,” recalled Bain. “He is verybright and has a very good nature … but he lostall of his hearing, his sense of speech and allresponse from his lower extremities. With hiswheelchair he can be mobile and have some dig-nity—he no longer has to crawl on the ground.”

Mobility, in Angola, means being able tofind work and provide for a family or going toschool and maybe a brighter future. Mobilitymeans not having to crawl or be dependent onfriends and family for survival. Simply beingable to sit up and look people in the eye ratherthan lying face down all day is a success, and ifAngola teaches you nothing else, it teaches youto approach the concept of success with amuch different frame of mind.

“When you see the gratitude on the faces ofthe wheelchair recipients, you understand howmeaningful this contribution is to them,” saidJim Blackwell, managing director of theSouthern Africa Business Unit of Chevron-Texaco. “We’re pleased to participate in this life-changing program.” This is ChevronTexaco’sthird sponsorship of wheelchairs in the past fouryears and is part of the company’s initiative topartner with communities around the globewhere it conducts business.

The Wheelchair Foundation is grateful toChevronTexaco for not only helping to sponsorthe wheelchairs that will improve the lives ofpeople in Angola, but for the active participa-tion in helping to import and then distribute thewheelchairs in conjunction with Angolan FirstLady Ana Paula dos Santos and her Lwini Fundfor Social Solidarity. Lwini representatives havereported, “We can see the enormous change in

the lives of the people that received the wheel-chairs you brought here in 2001, 2002 and nowin 2003. They are better able to take care ofthemselves, and stand a better chance of surviv-ing in this very difficult society. They have nicerclothes, they go to work and there is more foodand water in their homes. This is more thanthey ever could have prayed to receive.”

In Angola, a wheelchair is a very big deal.And many, many more wheelchairs are needed.

OPPOSITE PAGE: >>> Visitors witness very simple ways of living in villages. THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: >>> New horizonsemerge with each wheelchair. >>> Every day challenges of life before his new wheelchair. >>> Community water well for thousands ofAngolans. >>> Rotarian Oran Bain changing a life in Luanda. >>> New mobility is a cause for great celebration.

I N J A M A I C A

1 4 S p r i n g 2 0 0 4 w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g

The association is called the MillionDollar Round Table (MDRT), and itsmembers are among the world’s

most successful life insurance and financialservices professionals. A group of 31 peopleaffiliated with the MDRT and its philan-thropic arm, the MDRTFoundation, enjoyed adifferent kind of successin December.

They put “milliondollar” smiles on the faces of 560 physi-cally disabled and/orimmobile residents ofJamaica.

In June 2003,Wheelchair Foundationfounder Ken Behringspoke at the MillionDollar Round Table’sannual conference,stressing the world-wide need for wheel-chairs and the hope,mobility and freedoma new wheelchairoffers someone who,to that point, had littlehope, if any.

Ken’s message waswell received, and six months later the Wheelchair Foun-dation and the MDRTFoundation were spon-soring two containersof wheelchairs—560 wheelchairs in all—fordelivery in Jamaica.

The first distribution was held in Kingston,where free wheelchairs were presented tosome 350 deserving people. John Junor,Jamaica’s Minister of Health, was present forthe ceremony, and joined WheelchairFoundation representative Jeff Behring,MDRT President George Pickett and MDRTFoundation President John Marshall Lee inaddressing the crowd.

The following day a second distribution washeld in Montego Bay, a town about one-tenth

the size of Kingston. Accordingly, the numberof wheelchair recipients was much smaller—but not the enthusiasm and the appreciationthey showed.

Following the Montego Bay distribution,MDRT President George Pickett said, “We

still had about 15 of thesmallest wheelchairsfor children. At thispoint, our trip took asurprise turn.”

A husband and wifeon the distributionteam had been inMontego Bay previ-ously, volunteering ata local orphanage. A local minister withwhom the couple hadworked was also pres-ent, and it didn’t takelong to decide that theorphanage would be aperfect place to dis-tribute these 15 smallwheelchairs.

On the way, theteam stopped at a toystore to buy at least onetoy for each of the 80or so orphans wholived at the facility.

“When we arrived,”said Pickett, “none ofus were prepared forthe experience. Thesewere children, mostly

ages 1 to 15, with serious disabilities andbirth defects. While we brought toys andwheelchairs, the children were more inter-ested in receiving hugs and some personalcontact from us. The impact of our presencewas so dramatic because we were just thereto let the children know that someone caresabout them.”

“This trip had a huge impact on everyoneinvolved,” said Pickett. “The WheelchairFoundation delivers a wonderful gift to thosein need, and we are very proud to be involvedin this worldwide mission.”

The Wheelchair Foundation wishes togive special recognition to the peopleand organizations that have helpedmake our mission so successful. As wedeliver 10,000 wheelchairs per montharound the world, lives are changed forentire families, and the messages ofpeace, friendship and unselfish givingto others is having an impact on theworld in which we live.

The United States Department of State

The United States Department of Defense

Rotary Clubs and Rotarians Worldwide

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The China Disabled Person’s Federation

Fondo Unido Rotario de Mexico

Smithsonian Magazine

The Knights of Columbus

Hyundai

The Million Dollar Round Table Foundation

Crystal Cathedral Ministries

Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation

Henry E. Niles Foundation

National Philoptochos

Samaritan’s Purse

Samsung

ChevronTexaco

The Oakland Athletics

Bond Manufacturing Company

MetLife

Major League Baseball

Global Alliance

New York Yankees Foundation

The Dibner Fund

The Signature Service Group

The Starr Foundation

Wells Fargo Foundation

Southwest Airlines

Geoff and Colleen Tate

Wilcox Industries

SPECIAL THANKSmillion dollarmoments: Jamaica

ABOVE: NOW HE CAN GO OUTSIDE WITH HISFRIENDS. BELOW: MILLION DOLLAR ROUNDTABLE PRESIDENT GEORGE PICKETT AND JEFFBEHRING CHANGE LIVES IN KINGSTON.

G L O B A L T E A M

w h e e l c h a i r f o u n d a t i o n . o r g C h a n g i n g t h e Wo r l d 1 5

Wheelchair Foundation SoutheastPresident Jack Drury reports increased participation by ethnicgroups in South Florida to help the physically disabled in theirhome countries. The sponsorships of containers of wheelchairsto Ecuador, Venezuela, the Bahamas and Turkey are currentlyunderway. Local foundations and Rotary Clubs have continued toexpand their reach into the international service arena by utiliz-ing the ongoing relief mission of the Wheelchair Foundation andour distribution partners in countries around the world.

Wheelchair Foundation Washington, D.C.In a very close working relationship with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Defense, the WheelchairFoundation has spearheaded an initiative that will continue tobring lifesaving wheelchairs to physically disabled citizens inAfghanistan, Iraq and numerous other countries that are listedas having serious landmine and unexploded ordnance problems.The U.S. Department of State estimates that there are between60 to 70 million landmines planted in up to 60 countriesaround the world, and the number of injuries due to these munitions is increasing on a yearly basis.

Wheelchair Foundation New YorkAs the traditional hub of numerous ethnic groups in the UnitedStates, the Wheelchair Foundation New York office is focusingits public education campaign on creating awareness of the needsand abilities of people with physical disabilities in countries suchas Israel, the Dominican Republic and China. Events have beenheld to initiate the adoption of a country or region by specificgroups of people, who then sponsor the shipment of wheelchairs tothese destinations, and often travel to participate in their delivery.

Wheelchair Foundation NevadaThe state of Nevada will most likely be the first of the 50 statesto completely eradicate immobility. A dedicated collaboration ofindividuals, groups, organizations and corporations has allowedthe Wheelchair Foundation of Nevada to distribute over 1,300wheelchairs statewide in the past two years. A generous gift fromRalph and Betty Engelstad will provide for enough wheelchairsto end immobility throughout Nevada.

Wheelchair Foundation Canada/La Fondation De Chaise Roulante CanadaOperating from the Vancouver area of British Columbia,Wheelchair Foundation Canada has established itself as one ofthe most popular international service projects of Rotary Clubsand Rotarians throughout the country. Local schools, civicgroups and individuals have embraced the idea of Canadiansdoing their part to relieve the suffering of immobile peoplearound the world, as well as of local residents who are in need of wheelchairs, but are without the funds necessary to acquireone. Canadians have sponsored wheelchairs to numerous loca-tions in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

Wheelchair Foundation AustraliaFounded in 2003 by members of the Rotary Club of Gosford Westin New South Wales, Wheelchair Foundation Australia is working tocoordinate the sponsorship and distribution of wheelchairs in theAustralia and Western Pacific region as the international serviceproject of their Rotary Club. Wheelchairs have been delivered toPapua New Guinea, and a project is currently under way to send a280-wheelchair container to Samoa. Through the dedicated effortsof the volunteer directors and members, a great deal of awarenesshas been generated throughout Australia about the needs and abili-ties of people with physical disabilities in the Western Pacific.

Wheelchair Foundation ChinaIn our continuing effort to help the nearly 35 million people withphysical disabilities in China that are in need of a wheelchairbut cannot afford one, Wheelchair Foundation Founder KenBehring and the Civil Affairs Ministry in Beijing have recentlysigned a cooperative agreement that will provide for the distribu-tion of 50,000 wheelchairs in the Beijing area over the next fiveyears. Similar agreements have been initiated in Shanghai,Guang Zhou and numerous other provinces throughout China, incooperation with the China Disabled Person’s Federation.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.WHEELCHAIRFOUNDATION.ORG FOR:

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LEFT: DON AND JOHN WILLIAMS VISIT NEVADA GOVERNOR AND MRS. KENNYGUINN. RIGHT: FLORIDA GOVERNOR JEB BUSH WITH JACK DRURY.

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