Mobility to Mongolia
By Chris Murphy
ModestoView was able to serve in a global project delivering wheelchairs to those in need in Mongolia. I and my daughter Abigail Murphy were part of the volunteer Hope Haven West team of physical therapists, mechanics and support team that delivered and seated over 200 people in modern wheelchairs in 5 cities and villages in Mongolia. We did two seatings in the capital city Ulaanbaatar and then up to the smaller towns of Selenge, Erdenet City, Darhkum and Murun ranging from the center of Mongolia to near the Russian border. We were supported on the ground by local Rotary Clubs and the Mongolian Red Cross. It was so great to have this team work with our fellow Rotarians and meet so many new friends.
The impact of this effort was amazing and emotional. Some of the people had travelled over 600 km, by car, motorcycle and even horseback to be fitted in a Hope Haven Chair or other chair. Many people, aged two years to the 80s were fitted for a chair for the first time and it would change their lives. Lonny Davis has created a local organization that is supported by specialists across the USA and the volunteer spirit with which we travelled was a lifetime experience. Seeing the Mongolian country side and meeting the people was so rewarding and enriching. Our team stayed in Ger Camps and hotels during our service as well as attending the national festival of Naadam and these memories will be with us forever.
Please consider donating any old wheelchair, or much needed funds to Hope Haven West. You may even want to serve on one of these trips 100% (yes you read that correctly) of all donations go to Hope Haven Projects in South and Central American and now in Asia. www.hopehavenwest.org
