Chair-ity: American Group Provides Wheelchairs for Iraqi Children

With all of the negative news coming out of Iraq these days, I was both surprised and moved when I read the story of the American-based charity that is providing wheelchairs for children in Iraq. The group, called Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids, offers chairs and hope for the thousands of Iraqi children who live with a variety of conditions including Polio and muscular dystrophy. The program was started in 2005 by Brad Blauser and to-date has provided more than 250 wheelchairs to children in Iraq.

[Blauser] first came to Iraq in 2004 as a civilian contractor. Struck by the abject chaos surrounding him and seeing helpless children scooting along the ground, he pledged to find a way to help. His first step was to consult an Army medic to find out what hospitals really needed. "He surprised me with his answer about pediatric wheelchairs. We've got so many children out in the city that the ones who can get around are following their friends by dragging themselves around on the ground, which is heartbreaking to see," he says.

Blauser has partnered with a nonprofit group called Reach Out and Care Wheels, which sells him the chairs at a manufacturing price of about $300.

The chairs are manufactured by prisoners at the South Dakota State Penitentiary. Even the inmates are proud of what they are doing and the positive impact that they have on the lives of others.

"Getting these prisoners involved, it just means the world to them," said Andrew Babcock, the executive director of Reach Out and Care Wheels. "Even the prisoners, I've been there and visited, and they're so excited. They come up with different design ideas and ways to make things better for the kids. They want to know where the chairs are going and what kids we're helping."

The emotional impact extends all the way from those making the chairs to those receiving them.

"The most affecting thing about this whole wheelchairs for children is when the parents realize the gift that is being given to their children and they reach out to hug you." he said. "The tears are running from their eyes and they say, 'We never thought that you could do this.' "

With so much attention on Iraq directed at the military effort, it was refreshing to come across this powerful story. It reminds us that the humanitarian efforts being made in Iraq are equally important as the military efforts.

http://www.wheelchairsforiraqikids.com/

http://www.rocwheels.org/ 

An Iraqi girl gets fitted for her wheelchair with the help of

U.S. military personnel 

An Iraqi boy gives a thumbs up after receiving his wheelchair.

Brad Blauser, center, created the program.