The following is a transcription of a speech given by council member Alan Barasorda (who is also a District Deputy) recounting his experience distributing wheelchair donations which we helped fundraise in Mexico.  

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Thank you, gentlemen, for allowing me to speak about a wonderful program that Mexicolumbus partners with throughout the year: the American Wheelchair Mission.

I have been watching Brother Julian sitting in that wheelchair we have here—our display wheelchair—and it never really occurred to me that there are people who actually receive those exact chairs. In my mind, it was simply, “Okay, we raised money for it,” and my thinking stopped there. I then made up my mind that I wanted to see the people who receive these wheelchairs.

When I was invited to join the American Wheelchair Mission along with the California state officers—including our State Deputy, Ken Rose, and all the past state deputies—I went as a representative of the council to show that Alhambra was well represented. Dan Moburg also joined us. He is currently the Idaho State Deputy and was the Grand Knight of Alhambra back in 2006. So, two of us from Alhambra were part of this mission to Mexico, and I thought, “Alhambra, you are the greatest.”

I met all the state officers at the Aeromexico waiting room at 6:00 a.m. on Monday morning, November 21. That was the first time we all saw each other as we prepared for the trip. We boarded the plane and flew into Mexico City, arriving about four and a half hours later.

We checked into a hotel because the next day we were scheduled to visit a rehabilitation center in the town of Pachuca, which is about a 90-minute drive north of Mexico City. This center is funded by an annual telethon led by Don Francisco, who is very well known throughout Latin America. He was inspired to create it after watching the Jerry Lewis telethons for many years. These rehabilitation centers allow handicapped children to receive therapy so they can become as functional as possible.

The wheelchairs are especially important because many of these children will never have normal use of their legs. However, they can develop very strong arms. In fact, one former client of the rehab center went on to participate in the Paralympics in wheelchair competitions. He has incredibly strong arms—he could arm wrestle any of you without a problem—but his legs are deformed.

The wheelchair mission that you have supported so generously over the years provides mobility—the gift of mobility—to people who would otherwise never have it. You might ask, “Why can’t the parents buy a wheelchair?” This is Mexico. The working poor there are not comparable to the working poor here. I saw their homes, and honestly, they make the homes of our working poor look like mansions.

I was shocked by the level of poverty I saw. Asking parents to buy a wheelchair for their child simply is not possible for them. Your donations, whether as a council or as individuals, truly make a significant difference in the lives of these families and their children.

On Tuesday, after receiving a thorough tour of the rehabilitation center, we went out into the courtyard, where 60 wheelchairs had already been assembled. They were the same type as the one Julian sits in—yellow, with our logo on them. We were just missing you there, Julian.

We took turns pushing a wheelchair out as families were called forward to receive them. Each time, we were expected to ask the parent, “Would you like us to place your child in the wheelchair?” Every time I asked, the mother would say, “Take my child.” I lifted the child and placed them in the wheelchair. I may have a bad back, but for the Lord, I will do that—no problem. It was a wonderful experience.

There was one young boy, about 11 years old, who treated his wheelchair like a race car. He zoomed all around the courtyard, and we had to get out of his way. He was so happy because he now had mobility—he could move freely. It was truly a great experience.

On Wednesday, we went directly to families’ homes because some could not come to collect their wheelchairs. Their homes were incredibly humble—very little furniture and extremely simple living conditions. I found myself wondering if I could live like that. But if you are a Mexican in that situation, you have no choice. That is simply your life as part of the working poor.

Even so, we were making a real difference by providing a wheelchair. In one home we visited, the mother prepared refreshments for us. When someone offers you food in their home, they are giving from what they have. In this case, she was giving from her scarcity. Part of me did not want to accept it, but I did not want to insult her or take away her dignity.

I accepted the food, but I could not stop thinking about how many meals that family might be giving up so we could eat. I felt guilty, but I thanked her. She was deeply grateful that we brought a wheelchair for her handicapped son. It meant everything to her.

This was the first time in my life that I had been on the receiving end of witnessing charity being delivered. Throughout my life, I have donated to various causes, but someone else always did the delivery. This time, I saw the people who directly benefited from my donation and from this council’s donations.

It is impossible to experience something like that and not be affected. I want to do it again. I strongly encourage this council to continue fundraising for the American Wheelchair Mission. We distributed 65 wheelchairs—multiply that by 150 dollars per wheelchair. That takes a lot of money, and this mission operates all over the world.

State officers are going again in February to the Philippines. I passed on that trip, but future visits are planned for Asia, including Vietnam and possibly Malaysia, where my wife is from. She had no interest in Mexico, but she would absolutely go to Malaysia.

I want to address one concern you might have: “Who pays for the travel, hotels, and airfare?” That does not come from your donations. That expense was entirely my own. The $150 per wheelchair goes toward the wheelchair itself. Those of us who distribute them cover our own costs.

Please rest assured that your donations are not squandered on travel or events. The mission is taken very seriously. Money donated goes to wheelchairs—and wheelchairs alone.