Rotarians extend a helping hand

A helping hand Photo: Photo submitted by Rich Allen

Local Rotarians Eddie Paterson with daughter Brylee, Rich Allen, Bill Gates and District 7780 Chair for Crutches for Africa, Dennis Robillard, of the Saco Bay Club of Saco-Biddeford are pictured here with a stack of mobility devices being readied for a May 13 trip to Africa.

RUMFORD- Area Rotarians recently traveled to South Portland to make their initial delivery of mobility devices to be shipped to Africa next month as part of the world-wide Crutches 4 Africa project. They were assisted in the delivery by Eddie Naples of Region 9 School of Applied Technology.

“I think this is a great start,” noted Rich Allen, club president. “We delivered over 70 pair of crutches, more than 50 walkers and 20-plus canes. We also stayed and participated in a work group to help shrink wrap the MD's that will be loaded into a 40 foot storage container on May 13.

To date, the Rotary clubs across the state of Maine alone have collected more than 1700 crutches and 700-plus walkers.

Rotarians from across Maine will travel to South Portland again on Friday, May 13 as part of The Crutches 4 Africa Rotary Service Day Project. Their mission, “is dedicated to helping those with the basic human need of mobility.” Crutches 4 Africa collects mobility devices (MDs), which include crutches, canes, walkers and wheelchairs, and ships them to Africa for distribution.

Crutches 4 Africa, a 501(c)3 organization, was started in 2005 when the founder, David Talbot was working in Africa on a documentary film for another non-profit organization. While working in Uganda, David saw the great need for mobility devices.

As a polio survivor himself, David is very aware of mobility issues. With the onset of Post Polio Syndrome, he has had to return to using crutches himself. Observing people using tree limbs, rough hewn crutches and often, nothing at all; just scooting along on the ground using their hands and arms for locomotion, the idea for Crutches 4 Africa was germinated.
David is a member of the Mountain Foothills Rotary Club of Evergreen, CO.

On May 13, Rotarians will be loading a 40 foot storage container for shipment to Africa. Dave Talbot will be part of the District Conference and assisting in the loading of that container.

For more information on your local Rotary Club and how you can be a part of their efforts, contact Rich Allen at r.allen@fsbme.com.

To learn more about Crutches 4 Africa visit http://crutches4africa.org/.