Tim Gibson, the silver fox of my NYCares/Caring Community food delivery program is issuing an interesting humanitarian challenge. He’s asking his fellow volunteers to set out on a scavenger hunt for usable crutches, walkers and canes that he will personally deliver to the needy through Crutches 4 Africa. In February, Tim will embark on the Abercrombie and Kent private trip around Africa. His goal is to collect as many mobility devices as possible and distribute them to people suffering the effects of polio, birth defects and landmine accidents in the most remote and impoverished areas of the continent.
“There are thousands of crutches, walkers and canes out there,” insists Tim. “It’s just a case of finding them. And once people know where they are going, and they will be given away for free, the closets open. It’s wonderfully simple and effective. Someone’s broken ankle here becomes a lifeline to someone who can now become mobile for the first time in their lives. They get dignity as well as mobility.”
Hand delivering these gifts is exciting and heartbreaking considering the physical conditions of the lucky recipients. “I’ve seen people who literally have been born with no legs … their bodies just stop at the hips.” Tim recalls “one guy who was punting himself around on a large skateboard.”
Information on Crutches 4 Africa, its founder David Talbot and ways to help can be found on their website at www.crutches4africa.org.
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