Wheelchair Foundation

Our mission is to deliver a free wheelchair to every child, teen and adult worldwide who needs one but has no means to acquire one, bringing hope, mobility, freedom. 1-877-378-3839.

Why do we exist?

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 100 million people with physical disabilities worldwide need wheelchairs, though less than 1 percent own or have access to one. The number of physically disabled is likely underestimated, due to the difficulty in accounting for "forgotten" citizens who spend their lives hidden from sight.  In many developing countries, the only way for a person with physical disabilities to be mobile is to crawl along the ground or be carried by family or friends. An all to common reality is that many people stay in bed or the corner of a room for years at a time.

People require the use of a wheelchair for many reasons: accidents, birth defects, war injuries, debilitating diseases and advanced age. One of the most horrific causes of disability worldwide can be attributed to landmines or unexploded ordinance (UXO). According to the World Health Organization, every year more than 29,000 people are injured by landmines or UXO around the world. This number does not include unreported cases, or those that are killed by the explosions. It is estimated that the number of people who need wheelchairs will increase by 22 percent over the next 10 years, with the greatest need existing in developing countries. The wheelchairs provided by the Wheelchair Foundation are purchased in bulk, and designed to be the best possible solution in developing countries. They are delivered in a 100 to 280-wheelchair ocean freight container, and are offered free of charge to those most in need. Your donation of as little as $75 will sponsor, ship and deliver a new wheelchair to a person in need. To have input on the country of destination and/or to participate on a distribution trip, please also consider sponsorship of an entire container of 100 to 280 wheelchairs to a specific country.

What have you accomplished?

Since 2000, we have distributed 600,000 free wheelchairs to people in need in 150 countries! To read various stories illustrating our accomplishments, see:

http://www.wheelchairfoundation.org/news/press_room.php and

http://www.wheelchairfoundation.org/news/story_list.php

And, to view our past newsletters, see:

http://www.wheelchairfoundation.org/news/newsletter_list.php

And, to view our archive of short videos, please see:

http://www.wheelchairfoundation.org/deliveries_videos/video_list_descriptions.php 

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