Wheelchairs to give away

Friday, September 26, 2008

The Star - Metro

Wheelchairs to give away
By C.S NATHAN

WHILST many underprivileged disabled children are immobile, one person who has ample supply of wheelchairs is unable to get them off his hands.

Paraplegic Briton George Henry, 57, has been trying to distribute free wheelchairs to those who need them since first coming here in 2005 but there have been no takers.

Henry runs the Hapee World Centre charity in Seremban, a place equipped with disabled-friendly facilities that doubles up as his home.

“I went around in England asking for donations just to get these wheelchairs for those who need them here.

“The disabled, particularly from poor families, are more than welcome to take them away,” he said.

Henry had 30 wheelchairs, including two motorised ones, shipped here two months ago.

Many more: Henry and Lisa with some of the ordinary wheelchairs that they want to give away.

He has passed the word around since the wheelchairs arrived but has not received one call.

“I am giving them away for free because these were donated. Maybe people find this hard to believe. For those who need them, all you need to do is call me,” he said.

Henry estimates the wheelchairs, some new and others second-hand, cost around RM230,000.

The motorised ones which were donated by families who had disabled children in England cost RM80,000 and RM60,000 respectively.

The two wheelchairs which are battery-operated can be adjusted according to the user’s size and weight. It also helps the user to stand up and sit down.

“It would be such a waste if these wheelchairs end up at the scrapyard instead,” he said.

In his effort to reach out to the disabled community, especially the underprivileged, Henry has helped many children here secure the necessary equipment to aid their rehabilitation.

“We recently took one boy back with us to England to be fitted with a prosthetic limb. I am just trying to help out as I understand first hand the problems that the disabled face,” he said.

Henry was instrumental in getting conjoined twins Ahmad and Muhamad Rosli, who were joined at the pelvis, to get separated in Saudi Arabia in 2002.

He has also helped many disabled children here to get prosthetic limbs and walk again.

Not only does Henry have a roomful of wheelchairs, he also has boxes of toys sponsored by toy giant Ty.

“These toys are really expensive. We really want to give them away to needy children,” he said.

Henry can be contacted at 017-376 2178