Rotarian Gwynfor Roberts and wife Diane Malamut have a strong connection with Botswana, ever since travelling to the African country with Milton and Elaine Frary from the Wheelchair Foundation (UK).
They were there to deliver a consignment of 110 wheelchairs that had been donated by the Ruthin Rotary in Denbighshire, North Wales.
“What we saw over there had a profound and lasting effect on both of us,” explained Gwynfor.
“We saw at first-hand the desperate need for wheelchairs and the change to the quality of life that those wheelchairs brought.”
What we saw over there had a profound and lasting effect on both of us,”
That visit inspired Gwynfor to ask the Ruthin Rotarians not to rest upon their laurels by continuing to supply more wheelchairs to Botswana.
Thanks to the continued focus on raising money through various fundraising activities over the past three years, we in Ruthin with the help of one of the Wrexham clubs, were ready to apply for a Global Grant.
With the assistance of Tony and Doreen Marchant-Stubbs from the North Wales District 1180, along with Rotarians Nigel Bellamy and William McLellan from the Botswana clubs, they completed a Rotary Global Grant request for $40,300 to provide 280 wheelchairs. It was also supported by Wrexham Rotary.
There is still much to do to see this worthwhile project through to its conclusion.”
The wheelchairs will be assembled in Botswana in a workshop created from the container used to ship the wheelchairs and all the spare parts.
Gwynfor added: “There is still much to do to see this worthwhile project through to its conclusion.
“But, it’s been worth every effort, and I look forward to hearing about the life-changing stories for 280 wheelchair recipients.”
