My wife Karen and I returned February 2nd from ten days in Costa Rica with a group of 30 Rotarians and spouses from the University Hills (Denver, CO, USA) Rotary Club. The mission was to deliver a container load of wheelchairs (284) to clinics, palliative care facilities, senior citizen homes, and hospitals in the area of Alajuela, Costa Rica. The wheelchairs were purchased with funds raised by the University Hills Club (approximately $32,000 US) and matched by the Wheelchair Foundation (www.wheelchairfoundation.org).
Our group spent two long days led by the most gracious Rotarians from the Club Rotario de Alajuela delivering, unpacking, assembling and helping the recipients into their new wheelchairs at six different facilities. We personally delivered approximately 110 wheelchairs. The remainder of the container load were distributed by the local Alajuela Rotarians following our visit.
I am the incoming president of the Rotary Club of Littleton, CO, USA and Karen and I were invited to join the University Hills Rotarians on this adventure by my good friend Dr. Michael Hitchcock the incoming president of that Club.
What a wonderful adventure we had in two ways. First, the hands on experience of participating in the culmination of an international project done with the efforts of the Rotary Club of University Hills and Club Rotario de Alajuela. What an eye opening experience for all of us. Second, the remaining eight days of our adventure touring the magnificent mountains and beaches of Costa Rica with the University Hills Rotarians and spouses allowed us to establish a true bond of Rotary fellowship and friendship that will carry on long after our return to Colorado.
I have attached two photos of our wheelchair delivery days. One shows our group lined up with the wheelchairs at a clinic and the second shows members of our group with a 95 year old wheelchair recipient at a senior home.
Not only was this an opportunity to see Rotary at work on an international basis but a fine way to bond with fellow Rotary families.
Thanks for the opportunity to submit this to the ROTI Breadbasket.
C. Dale Flowers
President-Elect
Rotary Club Of Littleton, Co USA
