Lawrie Anderson has rheumatoid arthritis and a specialized wheelchair helps him get around — or at least it used to.
Yesterday morning he discovered his Willgo Wheelchair had been stolen from the back of his car, which was parked in an underground parking lot in Winnipeg. The thieves must have spent a lot of time stealing the wheelchair because they took it out of the car’s side door, something that would have required them to dismantle the chair first.
Having the chair is what gave Lawrie a shot at having the kind of mobility most of us take for granted, now he is limited to walking short distances in great pain. The chair had a unique lever and pully system that allowed him maneuver without relying on push rims, which is difficult for him given the nature of his disability.
I met Lawrie shortly before he got his Willgo Wheelchair and I remember how his life changed when it arrived, he was thrilled with the freedom it gave him.
He’d like to replace the chair, but they cost about $7,000 before taxes and shipping. If you can support Lawrie with a donation or even by sharing this with friends, family and neighbours it would be greatly appreciated! This has been such a senseless theft, it would be beautiful if something positive could come out it at the end of the day.
A great many thanks!!
(Photo courtesy of Chris Procaylo/Winnipeg Sun)
Yesterday morning he discovered his Willgo Wheelchair had been stolen from the back of his car, which was parked in an underground parking lot in Winnipeg. The thieves must have spent a lot of time stealing the wheelchair because they took it out of the car’s side door, something that would have required them to dismantle the chair first.
Having the chair is what gave Lawrie a shot at having the kind of mobility most of us take for granted, now he is limited to walking short distances in great pain. The chair had a unique lever and pully system that allowed him maneuver without relying on push rims, which is difficult for him given the nature of his disability.
I met Lawrie shortly before he got his Willgo Wheelchair and I remember how his life changed when it arrived, he was thrilled with the freedom it gave him.
He’d like to replace the chair, but they cost about $7,000 before taxes and shipping. If you can support Lawrie with a donation or even by sharing this with friends, family and neighbours it would be greatly appreciated! This has been such a senseless theft, it would be beautiful if something positive could come out it at the end of the day.
A great many thanks!!
(Photo courtesy of Chris Procaylo/Winnipeg Sun)