Wheelchair Charity Seeks Renewed Global Support
Decades-Old Humanitarian Effort Needs Help with Shipping Costs
A small Gold Coast charity, spurred by a television appeal nearly 30 years ago, has built over 10,000 wheelchairs for children worldwide. Now, the Surfers Sunrise Wheelchair Trust is calling for renewed generosity to cover escalating shipping expenses.
A Movement Born from a Plea
In 1996, during Prime Minister John Howard’s tenure and the height of Macarena mania, television program *A Current Affair* featured the story of Des Le Rance. His initiative focused on crafting wheelchairs from discarded bicycles for disabled children in Fiji. The response was overwhelming.
The impact of the first wheelchair delivery was deeply emotional. One mother expressed her gratitude tearfully as her son received a mobility device that would finally allow him to play outdoors with his peers.
“Thank you,” she cried as she hugged Des. “You’re welcome. They’re wonderful kids!”
—Mother of Recipient
Des recalls the incredible surge in donations following the broadcast. “I thought, if I make $1000 that will be fantastic but that first lot we made $165,000, that blew us away,” he told *A Current Affair*.
From Scrap to Mobility
The same child who received that inaugural wheelchair was recently honored on the 10,000th wheelchair produced by Surfers Sunrise Rotary volunteers. To date, the charity has dispatched wheelchairs to 31 countries, including East Timor, Vanuatu, and Russia.
Remarkably, the cost of each wheelchair has remained a modest $100, a testament to the dedication of volunteers who transform discarded bicycles into life-changing mobility aids. This low cost is also supported by the resourceful acquisition of materials, often collected from rubbish tips and council collections.
Volunteers like Rick meticulously modify bicycle components. “That’s what we use for the wheelchair,” he explained, indicating a rear wheel bracket. Bob expertly reshapes old handlebars for steering, preparing them for a fresh coat of paint. Ray heads the “Art Department,” adorning the front boards with native Australian wildlife like koalas and kangaroos.
Gary, who is nearing his 90th birthday, actively searches for scrap metal to contribute to the project’s funding. He highlighted the camaraderie among the volunteers: “It’s a lovely group of guys.” This sense of purpose and friendship is invaluable, as shared by another volunteer, Brian: “I don’t know if I hadn’t of been here, what I would have done. This is a project that’s helping humanity.”
An Urgent Need for Support
The charity is now facing increased shipping costs as demand continues globally. Des recently received a request from a doctor in Vanuatu for 140 wheelchairs. “What you can give them (the children), it’s amazing, the change in their life,” he stated.
The enduring impact of this initiative is captured in a poignant memory shared by Des: a young girl in Fiji, previously unable to move, exclaimed with pure joy about her impending wheelchair, “I’m going to town! I’m going to town! I’ve never been to town!”
To support the Surfers Sunrise Wheelchair Trust in their mission, donations can be made via their website. Globally, organizations like the Global Alliance on Accessible Technologies and Innovations (GAATI) continue to advocate for the widespread availability of affordable assistive devices, highlighting the ongoing need for such humanitarian efforts.
