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Chilean Rotarians Find Road to Purpose

When Chilean Rotarians Brigitte Kusch and her husband, Luciano, had the chance to meet Wheelchair Foundation founder, Kenneth E. Behring, at the Rotary International convention in Los Angles in June of 2008, they were thrilled to have the opportunity to purchase copies of his book Road to Purpose.  In fact, they had the opportunity to speak to Mr. Behring briefly, and have him sign and personalize their copies as well.

Both Brigitte and Luciano felt moved by Mr. Behring’s message of hope, and the personal trials he faced as he sought out the answer to the question of what his “true purpose in life” might be? Road to Purpose afforded them a glimpse into the life that would eventually lead Wheelchair Foundation and Rotary International together in support of helping men, women and children around the world who lack mobility. And both would have an opportunity to personally participate in wheelchair distribution, and witness the miracle of granting others mobility, and see the impact of their own work on wheelchair recipients and their families.

Their experiences with wheelchair distribution allowed them to better understand the significance of their role in caring for their Chilean brothers and sisters, and their fellow man, and brought greater meaning to the work they had already been doing with Rotary. It helped them better see the “purpose” of their efforts.

Flash forward to 2010, when Brigitte and Luciano would return home to Chile, after traveling abroad, to find their home burned to the ground.  An unfortunate mishap lead to a raging fire that consumed nearly everything they owned.  They arrived on site and were told that everything had been destroyed and that a lifetime’s worth of personal belongings were gone.  Still in a state of shock, together they searched through the still smoldering rubble of what was once their home, looking for some significant artifact or relic which they could keep.  Among the charred rubble, lay two slightly burned copies of Road to Purpose.  It caused them to pause and reflect on all of those individuals who had nothing who they were able to help, and realize that all had not been lost.  They both still had their lives, their health and each other.  And beyond any material loss, they had been lucky enough to have gained sense of their purpose here on earth.

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Letter from a Navy Lieutenant to Josh Routh

Hi everyone:

I am Renzo Llontop, the Navy Lieutenant who was with you for 2 days in Lima. I write to thank you for being here in Peru, the work you do around the world is really the best job It could exist, to help other people without asking anything in return. I know you’ve had a tiring journey, but I want you to know that really worth it, because you bring happiness to people with disabilities, without whose support would perhaps bedridden or unable to move as they should do. You are an exceptional group, you have a big heart and I know God will bless you for all your life. It was very exciting to see how your work is reflected in the streets, seeing that lady in the main square happy going back to work, with a chair of the Wheelchair Foundation, chairs that were given by you, and improved their life’s quality. Just like that lady must be other 850,000 people in the world who can now enjoy the comfort of being able to move without problems.

You have left a mark on my heart, a mark of generosity and charity for others, I will never forget these days and neither you, be sure about that. I just want to ask 2 favors for you, the first, send me the pictures!! Unfortunately I didn’t take my camera with me these days, so I’ll ask you to share some pictures from your stay in Lima. The second favor is, please never stop doing what you are doing, if there were more people in the world like you, the world would be much much better.

Thanks for coming, thank you for making dreams come true, thanks for sharing these beautiful moments with us, thank you for changing my way of thinking. When you return to Peru, do not hesitate to let us know, here we will receive you with open arms again. I hope to be always in touch with you and the work you do. I don’t have the e-mail of all of you, so please forward this mail to the others. I have nothing further to say that thank you again.

Kisses and hugs for everyone.

Renzo Llontop Espinosa

P.S.: sorry for my bad English, I hope you can understand everything I want to say.

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2010 Holiday Letter from David Behring, President of the Wheelchair Foundation

Dear Friends,

Jonathan, A Wheelchair Recipient

Imagine the possibilities that a new red wheelchair brings! During the entire eight years of his life in a small village in Yucatán, Mexico, Jonathan had never moved on his own. He waited and watched as his three sisters and older brother explored their worlds. Now that he is mobile, he too can go to school and socialize with other children. He no longer has to crawl and his mother no longer has to carry him everywhere they go. A new life awaits Jonathan and his family because of donors like you!

Jonathan is one of the 850,000+ people who have received the gift of mobility from the Wheelchair Foundation over the last ten years. Due to your generous contributions, we are fast approaching our original goal of distributing one million wheelchairs worldwide. Please help us continue to spread the joy that wheelchairs bring to recipients and their families. They all deeply appreciate your life-changing gifts.

You can make your holiday shopping meaningful, simple and quick. Celebrate the season with gifts of hope, mobility, freedom, dignity and independence for another human being. Donations of any dollar amount make a big difference to those who merely wish to move about in a self-determined way.

Sponsor a wheelchair in the name of a loved one for a $150 donation. You will receive a beautiful presentation folder with a photo of a wheelchair recipient and a personalized certificate, thanking you or honoring a special person in your life. Your gift of mobility in the name of a loved one will be received with heartfelt appreciation and will be remembered long after the holiday season. And in the process, you will be making dreams come true!

In these difficult economic times your support means more than ever, and we are offering these additional holiday incentives –

With each donation of $100+, you will receive a music CD titled “Holiday Around the World.”

And those who donate $500 or more will also receive the limited edition engraved paperweight.

    Please make your donations by December 1st to allow sufficient time for us to prepare and mail your customized presentation folder(s). Call us directly, donate online, or donate by mail.

    Thank you for sharing in the holiday spirit by helping us answer the prayers of physically disabled people worldwide who dream of mobility.

    Happy Holidays,
    David E. Behring
    President

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    Around the World and Beyond – A Tribute to Scharleen Colant, 1920-2010

    Around the World and Beyond
    A tribute to our special friend and role model,
    Scharleen Colant
    1920-2010

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    Scharleen Colant made her first call to the Wheelchair Foundation in 2006. She was aware of our work through her membership in the Rotary Club of San Francisco and wished to become more personally involved. Scharleen was doing a lot of traveling via cruise ships and was headed for Asia.

    Joel Hodge, Wheelchair Foundation’s Director of Operations, arranged for wheelchairs sponsored by Scharleen to be available as she traveled to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand in 2007. At stops in Siem Reap and Bangkok, she traveled inland to accompany her gifts of mobility to their recipients. Scharleen experienced such heartfelt joy in giving wheelchairs that she began saying, “Everyone should have the opportunity to sponsor a wheelchair and give it to someone personally. They have no idea what they’re missing.” In December of 2008, Scharleen and her family celebrated the holidays by accompanying nearly 600 wheelchairs she sponsored for Valparaiso, Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas, and throughout the country of Chile.

    Scharleen was a faithful participant at our fund-raising events and wasn’t afraid to get on-stage, give testimonials, encourage donors and pledge more gifts. Inspired by the fact that her late husband Ernest had been a pilot, in 2008 when Captain Sullenberger safely landed the plane in the Hudson River, she called us the very next day to donate a container of wheelchairs for New York in Sully’s honor. She strongly supported veterans and chose to accompany her wheelchairs to veteran’s facilities in northern California, where she entertained the vets with a twinkle in her eye.

    Scharleen was truly an extraordinary woman – with a sharp mind and humor. She was compassionate, full of joie de vivre, style, a world traveler and not afraid to do or to ask, always leading by example. She enchanted everyone she met (including all of us at the Wheelchair Foundation) with her beautiful smile and enthusiasm for helping others. She energetically participated in the distribution of the wheelchairs she provided and took great interest in the recipients and their life stories. She loved to dance, and if she wanted to dance, there was no way you were not dancing with her!

    One of Scharleen’s last requests was to establish a Wheelchair Foundation fund in her memory. She believed in what we do and she left a bequest in her estate to help provide the power to continue our important mission. We are exceedingly grateful for her generosity.
    Scharleen will never be forgotten. Thousands of recipients and their families have new lives, full of hope and possibilities, as a result of the wheelchairs she provided. We at the Wheelchair Foundation remember her as an irreplaceable friend and a role model for a life well-lived. As a tribute to our heroine, we have established a fund in her honor.

    The Scharleen Colant Wheelchair Fund
    You too can honor Scharleen and her work – with donations to “The Scharleen Colant Wheelchair Fund.” Please indicate “Scharleen Colant” when making donations online, via telephone or by check to:

    Wheelchair Foundation,
    3820 Blackhawk Road,
    Danville, CA 94506

    www.wheelchairfoundation.org
    Toll-free: (877) 378-3839

    “I would go around the world to give a wheelchair to someone if I knew it would help them.“
    – Scharleen Colant

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    The Gift of Mobility, Power & Independence

    The Wheelchair Foundation recently received a touching letter from the fourth-grade school teacher of a young wheelchair recipient named Gabriella. We would like to share this letter, and the joy that it brings, with you as it provides a wonderful example of how together, we are making a difference. Thank you for supporting the Wheelchair Foundation in our efforts to improve the lives of children, like Gabriella, around the world. The letter:

    I wanted you to know…

    A change has come over Gabriella! She is much more independent, smiles more, and is talking more, and that last one is a miracle. She is writing more, and has more friends now, and well… that wheelchair has just made her feel more powerful and independent, and mobile, and capable. She loves being able to come to school on her own power and her mother is not pushing her in a baby stroller anymore. Her arms are getting stronger, and SHE is deciding when to walk, when to use the wheelchair, and when to use it like a walker. SHE gets around and does not have to wait for someone to push her.

    Thank you so much for your gift that has affected us all in many very positive ways!

    Denise Aiani
    Justin Elementary School
    Simi Valley, CA

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