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WWII veterans return home from 'Honor Flight'

This story borrowed and re-published in full  from the KTVU Channel 2 News Website

Thanks to you, our donors, we were able to provide mobility to these veterans that served in WWII during their trip to Washington D.C on an “Honor Flight”.

SAN FRANCISCO — Bay Area World War II veterans who took an “honor flight” to see the war memorial in Washington, D.C. arrived back home Sunday. Families held flags and signs at San Francisco International Airport for an emotional reunion with their veterans.

“My dad is legally blind, legally deaf, he’s an amputee, he’s had two heart surgeries and he’s got lung cancer – so he’s living on borrowed time,” said Janice Lopez. The Fremont Firefighters Union had raised $30,000 to send the 30 veterans to see the war memorial before it’s too late. Some of the firefighters went on the trip to chaperon the veterans.

WWII veterans return home from Honor Flight. Photo courtesy of KTVU Channel 2 News

WWII veterans return home from Honor Flight. Photo courtesy of KTVU Channel 2 News

World War II veteran Art Perry told KTVU the trip meant he was able to talk with people his age, who went through the same thing he did. “It made me feel really good having someone like that to talk to,” he said.

For some, the trip meant closure. Sgt. Art Perry was 22 years old when he served as an Army Sergeant in World War II. He hadn’t really talked about the war until now. “I think this is a long time coming,” said Perry’s daughter Dianne Madronio.

For others at the airport, the veterans return was a life lesson as they expressed their love and appreciation. “This is the greatest generation there was. They honored us; they wouldn’t let us honor them,” said Ray Wilkenson with the Fremont Fire Department.

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Mobility For America Allows Wheelchair Foundation to Supply Wheelchairs to Honor Flight Northern California

Honor Flight Two Vets at MemornialFor years now, Honor Flight Northern California has been flying veterans to Washington, D.C. to allow them the opportunity to visit and reflect at their memorials. For many aging veterans this is their memorials. For many aging veterans this is their only opportunity to see the tributes erected to their valor and sacrifice for our freedom. With priority granted to WWII veterans, Honor Flight Northern California provides all-expenses-paid trips to and from our nation’s capital. Many of these brave service men and women benefit from the use of a wheelchair during these whirlwind, as the full journey takes place in less than 48 hours, start to finish.

If you are interested in supporting or learning more about the Honor Flight project please visit their website at www.honorflightnorcal.org or search for “Honor Flight” to find a hub in your area.

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The Fantastic Mr. Josh Burroughs

Josh Burroughs in Shanghai, China, at the official handover of wheelchairs sponsored by his Rotary club, the Rotary Club of San Jose, California, for the 2010 World Expo.

Josh Burroughs in Shanghai, China, at the
official handover of wheelchairs sponsored by his Rotary club, the Rotary Club of San Jose, California, for the 2010 World Expo.

Josh Burroughs began his legacy of supporting Wheelchair Foundation in his college days at Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo, California.  In August of 2008, Josh was a team leader among a group of students who traveled to Peru to distribute 400 wheelchairs.  The students purchased these 400 wheelchairs through a year’s worth of work as a class project.  Josh was totally overwhelmed by the powerful, life-changing experience of placing someone in a wheelchair, and from that point on, committed to continuing this wonderful work.

In the fall of 2009, Josh again traveled with Dr. Lynn Metcalfe, Professor of Marketing and humanitarian, and fellow students whom she had challenged, guided and encouraged to become philanthropic. This time they flew to Oaxaca, Mexico, to deliver 400 more wheelchairs they had purchased.

Following graduation from Cal Poly, and still smitten by his desire to make a difference in the world, Josh joined the Rotary Club of San Jose, California, and began a career with Barry Swenson Builders. Through his business and Rotary connections, Josh has helped fund and organize distributions in Shanghai, China, and Bangladesh, where Josh and fellow Rotarians visited community centers, hospitals and homes to deliver the gifts of hope and mobility directly to recipients.

Josh in Oaxaca, Mexico, as a Cal Poly student.

Josh in Oaxaca, Mexico, as a Cal Poly student.

This spring, San Jose Rotarians and Wine for Wheels worked in partnership with the Forever Love Foundation and the Department of Social Development and Welfare to arrange wheelchair distributions in Chiang Mai, Bangkok and Chon Buri Provinces in Thailand. Ceremonies were held at rehabilitation centers, a veteran’s hospital, individual homes and a home for the disabled. These home deliveries were especially emotional, allowing the Rotarians to witness first-hand how wheelchairs would help the recipient and family members around their home.

Josh is back to work, championing a new project to send wheelchairs to Croatia. He is a shining example of the philanthropic spirit of a new generation and of how just one person can make a huge difference in the world by helping others and changing lives.

 

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Australian Rotarians Walk Nearly 1,100 Miles To Provide Wheelchairs for Madagascar

David Rivett, left, and Peter Pearce, of the Rotary Club of Gosford North, NSW, set out on a 1770km walk across the UK to raise funds for Wheelchairs & Desks for Madagascar.

David Rivett, left, and Peter Pearce, of the Rotary Club of Gosford North, NSW, set out on a 1770km walk across the UK to raise funds for Wheelchairs & Desks for Madagascar.

Two “super keen but mad” Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Gosford North, AUSTRALIA, David Rivett and 2014 Gosford City Council Citizen of the Year Peter Pearce, are walking 1770km from the Scottish Highlands to Lands End in the UK to raise funds for Wheelchairs & Desks for Madagascar.

A brand new wheelchair delivered by Rotarians direct to a beneficiary in devastated Madagascar costs $180. A donation of 10 cents per kilometre will pay for one wheelchair. The full price of a desk constructed in Madagascar by Rotarians is $15.

While David will walk part of the route, his main role is to provide support to Peter.

The walk commenced on June 10 at John O’Groats at the top of the Scottish Highlands and will take approximately 79 days to reach Lands End in the far south west of the UK on August 27.

The marathon walk includes The Great Glen Way, which stretches for 117km from coast to coast across the Highlands, linking the main centres of Fort William and Inverness, a 152km walk along the West Highland Way, which transverses the Loch Lomand and Trossachs National Park, and The Pennine Way, a 432km walk from the Peak District National Park along the Pennine ridge through the Yorkshire Dales down to the Scottish Borders.

Peter and David will visit many cities and towns along the route, including Inverness and Edinburgh in Scotland, Worcester, Gloucester and Bath in England, finishing in Cornwall at Lands End.

Contact has been made with District and local Rotary clubs in the UKto gain their support for the marathon walk to raise funds for the Madagascar Project. It is anticipated clubs will meet Peter and David along the way. They plan to do it tough by free camping or staying in van parks at night.

Peter and David will be visiting Madagascar in October 2014 to distribute wheelchairs, and assist the local people of Madagascar construct school desks. It is hoped some Australian Rotary clubs who appreciate the devastating conditions may donate a wheelchair or two.

To follow the big walk you can go to www.facebook/RotaryMadagascarProject

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Mobility For Amercia

Dear Friends,

As two of our nation’s greatest holidays approach, Memorial Day and Independence Day, we are reminded of those who have sacrificed for our freedom and independence. Yet many of our fellow Americans continue to live their lives without the simplest of freedoms and a basic human right: Mobility!

soldier_vetWhile you celebrate with your families, remember those Americans who lack basic mobility such as a veteran who has defended our nation or a child who can’t attend school. Honor freedom by providing wheelchairs for recipients in the USA through our “Mobility for America” program where we dedicate your donations to anyone in the USA who needs our help. To date we have given out over 35,000 wheelchairs to fellow Americans and so many thousands more are still desperately in need.

We receive phone calls weekly from individuals here in the United States who are either denied access to or do not have the ability to acquire a wheelchair. One such call was received from a gentleman named Jaime. The insurance company had denied Jaime a wheelchair which he could not afford to purchase on his own. After months of frustrating attempts to find a new or used wheelchair, his daughter heard about the Wheelchair Foundation. Jamie suffers from diabetic neuropathic arthropathy, also known as Charcot, and his severely deformed feet are unable to hold his weight. Soon after her call, father and daughter were in our office parking lot joyfully testing out a new wheelchair. Jaime is delighted to “now be able to do some things on his own,” and is thankful for the Wheelchair Foundation and the donors who made this gift possible.

With your gift of $100 or more, we will send you a red triple function pen with flashlight and stylus to remind you throughout the year of your generous donation.

Donate $150 or more and you will also receive a personalized certificate with a photo of a wheelchair recipient, sent in a beautiful presentation folder.

As an additional token of our appreciation, with your donation of $500 or more, we will include our deluxe,
multipurpose duffle bag.

Simply call us directly at 877-378-3839, or  donate on line through our website (www.wheelchairfoundation.org).

The Wheelchair Foundation, the world’s largest wheelchair relief organization, has distributed over 960,000 wheelchairs in 150+ countries. We are completely donor-driven and this amazing accomplishment is a direct result of overwhelming generosity on the part of our donors. Thank you for your continuing dedication and for your support of those in need of wheelchairs in the USA!

Sincerely,

David Behring
President

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