A Christian disability inclusion charity is providing life-changing wheelchairs for people in need around the world. Through the Roof is about to send another 142 wheelchairs to Africa as part of its ‘Wheels for the World’ project.
Globally, over 100 million people need a wheelchair but do not have one – with over 90 per cent of those in need living in Africa or Asia. In contrast, thousands of wheelchairs in the UK end up in landfill each year. Through the Roof refurbishes these chairs and ships them to countries where they can make an immediate, life-changing difference.
Carol Dyer from Through the Roof is leading a team which is setting out on another trip to Uganda this week. She’ll be joined by her 18-year-old son Caleb and her 81-year-old father Neil Salter who will be volunteering alongside a team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, mechanics, pastoral carers, and administrators. Together they’ll select and fit refurbished wheelchairs for children and adults in desperate need.
It will be Carol’s fifth mission to Uganda and she told Premier that a Bible is given to every wheelchair recipient:
“Not only do we have the opportunity to give wheelchairs, but we also give Bibles. We’re about transforming lives through Jesus and we want to see people spiritually transformed as well. So we get to give every client a Bible in their own language, which gives them the opportunity to know Jesus and to be transformed by Jesus, which is really the key thing for us as a charity.”
She added: “I get the best job, chatting to the disabled people given wheelchairs and telling them they are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made by God’. Often they do not know that. They are normally left at home, not going out to work or school. They arrive crawling or carried, but a wheelchair brings them freedom.”
Tim Wood, CEO of Through the Roof, said: “Our Wheels for the World project transforms the lives, physically and spiritually, of 800 disabled people every year. We’ve got a great community here, and we’d love for more people to join us in transforming lives.”
Through the Roof invites supporters to help by donating, volunteering, or spreading the word. You can find out more at www.throughtheroof.org