Whirlwind Wheelchair International
1600 Holloway Ave. SCI 251
San Francisco CA 94132
415-338-6277/
Contact: For Immediate Release
Keoke King
Marketing Director
(c) 415-218-8278
Bay Area Non-Profit Sends Wheelchairs to Injured Haitians
San Francisco, California - January 18, 2010 - As the grim news from Haiti pours in, Whirlwind Wheelchair International is preparing to send rugged wheelchairs for the thousands of Haitians who will survive with lasting mobility impairments. “A disaster of this magnitude often leaves as many permanently disabled as it kills. We will help as many people as we can.” says Marc Krizack, Whirlwind’s Executive Director. Though some main streets have been cleared for aid distributions, many other streets will take time to clear. “This kind of rough and uneven terrain is exactly where our chairs excel,” says Krizack.
Disability disaster response and recovery expert George Heake has described the RoughRider wheelchair as “ideal” for Haiti after the earthquake.
Whirlwind’s factory in San Juan del Rio, Mexico, is producing a rush order of Whirlwind’s RoughRiderTM wheelchair, which uses off-road bicycle wheels and wide front caster wheels for easier travel through mud and over uneven and broken surfaces. The San Juan del Rio factory is just one of 40 shops and factories Whirlwind has assisted in pursuit of sustainable local economic development over the past thirty years
Organizations like the Red Cross have received millions of dollars in donations via text message and online sites to fund lifesaving interventions like bandages, medicines and water in the first days after the quake. Whirlwind’s own website had almost $5,000 in contributions from its donors over the weekend. After rescue efforts are complete, thousands of survivors will need durable wheelchairs to restart their daily lives and to participate in rebuilding their country. “Today we are reaching out to Bay Area businesses and citizens asking for support of our efforts to provide good wheelchairs to people who will be trapped in their homes without mobility,” says Krizack.
If you or your organization is interested in learning more about the project or in contributing to distribution, please contact Whirlwind Wheelchair International at (415) 338-6277, send checks to Whirlwind at 1600 Holloway Ave. SCI 251, SF, CA 94132, or visit www.wheelchairsforhaiti.org to make a secure online donation.
More Information about Whirlwind Wheelchair International
What is Whirlwind?
Whirlwind Wheelchair International is a social enterprise dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities in the developing world . For thirty years we have focused on producing durable, low-cost and highly functional wheelchairs, which are produced in close collaboration with wheelchair riders in the communities where we work. These chairs give riders the reliable and functional mobility they need to make their maximum contribution to society. We have riders in over 40 countries traveling over every terrain imaginable from muddy village roads to rough pot-holed urban streets. We have continuously improved our products through rider feedback, and we have built a network of manufacturers that allows us to provide our unique wheelchairs anywhere in the world. For donors, this makes us a reliable partner in efficiently transforming donations into changed lives. For large volume wheelchair buyers we offer competitive prices, best-in-class products, attentive service, and quality in every chair.
The great unmet need for wheelchairs in developing countries
“At Whirlwind, we believe that no one should be excluded from any activity or treated differently merely because of a disability.” Marc Krizack, Executive Director.
The World Health Organization estimates that in the developing world roughly 20 million people need a wheelchair and do not have one. The causes of mobility impairment range from birth deformities to auto accidents, land mines, diseases, and other causes. Sadly, these causes continue to add to the number of people who need good wheelchairs. Of the people who need a good wheelchair, 70% live in rural areas where rough conditions demand durability.
“After safety considerations, our primary concerns with wheelchair design are usability and serviceability in resource-limited environments,” says Aaron Wieler, Whirlwind Industrial Designer. “A wheelchair appropriate for the environment where the rider lives can help riders get out of their homes to go to school, get jobs, and have social lives. A good wheelchair by itself does not solve every problem, but it is one step to mobility and independence.”
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If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Marc Krizack, please contact Keoke King at 415-218-8278 or keoke@whirlwindwheelchair.org.
