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Article Meet the grandparents helping children in need

By Tracy Hardy
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A group of retirees from Perth are using their skills to produce more than 200 wheelchairs a month for children around the world.

Wheelchairs for Kids is made up of 170 elderly volunteers and so far, they have constructed and distributed wheelchairs to children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy in more than 60 countries including Bali, China, Iraq and Lebanon.

“I’m not so sure that foreign aid always gets to the right place. But we can be 100 percent that our wheelchair gets to the right place,” Wheelchairs for Kids volunteer Gordon Hudson told ABC Lateline.

A grandmother of a wheelchair recipient from the tiny village of Thay Maw Ku on the Thai-Burma border said it would be an enormous help. Her debilitated grandson is unable to walk due to a bacterial infection he has been suffering from for two years. “We will not need to carry him around anymore. He will be able to sit down and only law down when he gets tired,” she told the program.

Each wheelchair costs around $200 to make, with the group relying on donations to construct models made from steel and aluminium to suit the World Health Organisation recommendations.

They also include hip and trunk supports, shoulder straps and head rests and are packed into a sturdy box alongside a teddy bear.

The group began in 1998 and has donated 32,468 wheelchairs so far.

For more information on the group or to donate to the cause visit: www.wheelchairsforkids.org

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  • Grandparents giving back and helping communities in this manner and by this contribution of wheelchairs is fantastic in every way.

    • No child should be confined due to a lack of mobility – these wheelchair give them mobility and freedom.

    Reply

  • What a fantastic initiative ! I love the picture of the retirees at work as well, what great spirit, love it !

    Reply

  • Look at all those happy faces. This gives me faith in humanity! Thanks for posting this lovely story.

    Reply

  • What a wonderful thing to do.

    Reply

  • What a fantastic initiative. Well done!

    Reply

  • Wonderful work the grandparents are doing for people who are in need.Lovely story!

    Reply

  • What a practical idea. I love the teddy bear touch.

    Reply

  • This is a wonderful initiative. Hopefully some companies will provide corporate sponsorship to cover the cost of materials and transport of them

    Reply

  • Wow, that’s awesome. What amazing people

    Reply

  • It’s amazing of them to help out like this!! 🙂

    Reply

  • Just amazing! Such a lovely story.

    Reply

  • Blessings to these wonderful people who are making such a difference to others.

    Reply

  • What a fantastic cause. These grandparents deserve all the help they can get to continue with their generous selfless work.

    Reply

  • Awesome idea! I love stories like this, gladdened the heart. And it’s helping out 2 groups in our community, the kids who need wheelchairs and the grandparents who are feeling useful once again

    Reply
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