Put unwanted wheelchairs, Zimmers, crutches and walking sticks to good use
ROTARY in Frome is collecting donations of old wheelchairs, mobility scooters, Zimmer frames, crutches, bath lifts, in fact any mobility related aid – for adults or children – and exporting them to Johannesburg.
Once there, Northcliff Rotary refurbish and repair as necessary and then distribute, free of charge, to those needing them, direct or through other Rotary clubs, across Southern Africa.
If you have privately bought/ owned (not NHS provided) mobility aids that you want to donate, then contact Rotary in Frome to take them off your hands and reuse/ recycle by exporting them to Southern Africa.
The project, known as Freewheeling, is coordinated in the UK by the Rotary Club of Rushmoor in NE Hampshire which, since the early 1990s, has sent over 38,000 wheelchairs to Africa.
The Rotary in Frome Freewheeling coordinator, Corsley resident Hugh Deed, moved from Rushmoor to this area a few years ago and is now organising collections locally to swell the numbers being sent.
The first batch of locally sourced assorted wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility aids was recently taken to Hampshire and is now on its way in a 40 foot shipping container with over 300 other wheelchairs plus other mobility items.
Hugh said, “People in Southern Africa are in desperate need of items like these; a wheelchair not only transforms a person’s life but the lives of everyone around them specially their immediate family. I have seen first-hand the joy, and often disbelief, when people receive these for free.”
Rotary in Frome add, “The project is not allowed to collect any NHS provided aids from the public; these must be returned to the NHS for them to decide their future use.
“If you want to donate your unwanted mobility aids then please visit the website and complete the online form and we will be in touch to arrange collection; www.rotaryinfrome. org.uk or email free wheeling@rotaryinfrome.org.uk.”
