Prince of Peace Newsletter Vol. 1

P l a n o

Touching Lives with the Gift of Mobility

–

T e x a s

Answering Prayers with the Gift of Mobility The Teleton Rehabilitation Centers for Children throughout Mexico are saving the lives of children who have been physically disabled by diseases from birth or injury. Through their televised “Telethon” each year since 1996, they have raised the funds to build 22 of the most advanced and beautiful rehabilitation centers in Mexico, and have recently opened a children’s cancer hospital and autism center.

Our Mission The American Wheelchair Mission is a non-profit organization with a goal

The combination of medical and holistic therapies are allowing children to live happier and more productive lives. Parents are directly involved in the therapies at the CRIT centers, and continue the process at home. This approach is allowing children with afflictions such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and other conditions to live better lives, and makes it easier for parents to properly care for them.

to deliver brand new, free wheelchairs and mobility aids to physically disabled children, teens and adults throughout the world who are without mobility or the means to acquire a wheelchair. The American

Wheelchair

A wheelchair is one of the most common needs of the patient families, but they just cannot afford it. Since 2005, CRIT centers have received thousands of wheelchairs donated by Knights of Columbus, allowing children to go to school, and relieving the parents of the need to carry their growing children everywhere they go.

Mission will continue to change the lives of entire families with the gifts of hope, dignity, freedom and independence.

The Need

Knights and parishioners of Prince of Peace in Plano, Texas have sponsored and delivered thousands of wheelchairs to the CRIT centers in Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Guanajuato, Mexico City, La Paz, Merida, Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico in recent years.

We estimate more than 100 million people worldwide are in need of a wheelchair but cannot afford one.

The simple gift of a wheelchair allows children to go to school, play outside with their family and friends, and go to church without having to be carried. The gift of mobility delivers Hope, Mobility, Freedom, Independence and Dignity.

The ability to answer the prayers of people without mobility is truly doing God’s work on earth.

The American Wheelchair Mission would like to express our sincere thanks to the parishioners of Prince of Peace Catholic Community for your incredible support of our life changing mission.

Recently, the CRIT centers have begun working with the local DIF offices (A national family support agency), to help adults in their community in need of wheelchairs. The gift of a wheelchair allows adults to go to work and provide for their families, and the elderly can get out of a bed they may have been confined to for years.

lives of entire families by answering prayers and dreams

come

true.

Cover: Fr. Tom Cloherty blessing a young man in Merida, Mexico.

Texas State Wheelchair Chairman Bill Weber and his wife Elaine have been involved in the Wheelchair Mission since the beginning at Prince of Peace, and have witnessed numerous prayers being answered when a wheelchair is given to a person without mobility. Bill Weber said, “We are witnessing the hand of God coming into these children’s lives, and the parents cannot thank us enough.”

Our gift

immediately changes the

making

enced the life-saving gift a wheelchair represents for children, adults and their families.

Fr. Tom said, “We are so blessed to be able to touch these children and their families in such an important and meaningful way.”

1

Fr. Tom Cloherty and Fr. Stephen Ingram have traveled to Mexico with the Prince of Peace parishioners and personally experi-

American Wheelchair Mission

Pamela, 5

$150 Sponsors the delivery of a brand new wheelchair The

wheelchair

ered

by

deliv-

the American

Wheelchair Mission would sell for more than $500 at a medical supply store.

Yet because we purchase wheelchairs directly from the manufacturer, and ship them 100 to 280 wheelchairs at a time by ocean freight containers directly to the country of destination, we can deliver this $500 wheelchair with each $150 donation we receive.

Leo Estrella meets Luis, 7

VISIT OUR SITE Amwheelchair.org On our website you will see videos of wheelchair distributions around the world, photos of people and their families who had their lives changed by the gift of a wheelchair, and stories of

Children at the CRIT Center always have a parent with them

our mission that touches lives in a very tangible and immediate way.

Join Us! Join us on a wheelchair distribution trip – Please email Bill Weber at: yankeesweb@tx.rr.com

Enrique, 17

Ricardo, 11

details.

2 www.amwheelchair.org

for

Oaxaca, Mexico

3

Joselyn Segura, 19

American Wheelchair Mission

Jim Kowalski’s first experience at the CRIT center

Bill Weber touching lives

Absolute joy

Maria had been praying for a wheelchair

4

www.amwheelchair.org

Changing children’s lives

Luis has a very bright outlook on life

Parents are involved in every aspect of the physical therapy

5

Prayers of thanks in the CRIT chapel

American Wheelchair Mission

Carlos Carmarenia, 4

Luis Garcia, 3

Emiliano, 5, and his brothers

Elise, 5

6 www.amwheelchair.org

Knights of Columbus and Wheelchairs Since 2003, Knights of Columbus have sponsored the delivery of tens of thousands of wheelchairs around the world, and right here at home to veterans and their families in need of mobility.

Since

2007,

Knights

across the U.S. have been having “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drives to raise funds for the delivery

of

wheel-

chairs. Beginning with Assumption Church

the

Virgin in

California,

Mary

Pasadena, where

Fr.

Gerard O’Brien coined the phrase “Wheelchair Sunday,” this program has spread across the country and sponsored thousands

of

wheel-

Monique and Dan Stoffel living the Gospel

chairs.

The first 5 parish drives in Southern California raised enough money to sponsor the delivery of 1,000 brand new wheelchairs and added more than 150 new Knights to the local membership.

Please visit the Knights of Columbus page of our website to learn how you can host a “Wheelchair Sunday.”

Please visit our website to watch videos of Knights delivering wheelchairs around the world, read articles or donate.

For more information, please contact: Bill Weber Texas KofC Wheelchair Chairman 3337 Treehouse Lane Plano, Texas 75023-7835 yankeesweb@tx.rr.com (214) 405-8023 Tax ID 26-571639

Chris Lewis President, AWM 2505 Anthem Village Dr., Suite E-602 Henderson, Nevada 89052-5505 USA clewis@amwheelchair.org (702) 580-0705

© Copyright 2020 American Wheelchair Mission | Photos by: Randy Hale, Chris Lewis & Contributing Photographers

Blessed

of