Monday, May 05, 2008 RP-born American teener donates 550 wheelchairs
THE vision of an 18-year-old girl will spell a big difference to the lives of physically challenged individuals in Cebu with her gift of 550 special wheelchairs this month.
Michelle Dalrympe, the youngest of three children of a couple from California, finds a common denominator with the pre-qualified recipients of these wheelchairs.
A male schoolmate, an off-duty security officer, accidentally discharged his 9mm gun in his backpack. The bullet hit Michelle and severed her spinal cord.
While the man pleaded guilty to one felony and two misdemeanors in the case and was sentenced to 270 days, Michelle was unable to walk again.
But her experiences as a paraplegic did not bring her down.
Instead, it inspired her to organize a wheelchair project with the help of her father.
She decided to distribute some to the Philippines, where she was born and where she grew up until she was seven years old while her parents served as missionaries here.
A team of 15 people, mostly from Big Valley Grace Community Church in Modesto, California, raised funds for the wheelchairs.
The wheelchairs will arrive in the country on May 8 to 20 and will be distributed to the beneficiaries in coordination with LifeWind International, Free Wheelchair Mission in Irvine, California and Holistic Community Development Initiatives (HCDI) based in the Philippines.
Michelle’s father, Terry, said the wheelchairs were uniquely made for rugged terrains.
About 300 wheelchairs will be distributed to recipients identified in advance by community health volunteers to areas in the country where HCDI’s community health education program is being implemented.
The Modesto team will deliver the wheelchairs directly to the homes of the PWDs and organize their families as support groups, which HCDI will monitor.
They will be mobilized to work together to empower family members of PWDs.
Two weeks ago, churches in Cebu City launched “The Paralytic Project” to help identify recipients of the wheelchairs.
Terry, the international director of LifeWind International, said these churches will also help in bringing PWDs on May 17 to the Cebu International Convention Center, where they will receive their chairs and enjoy the music and story of singer Ray Ann Fuentes.
Michelle will visit the country to lead in the distribution of some 250 wheelchairs during the concert.
She will also participate in a second concert in Bacolod City on May 18.
