Joni and Friends

Hello, my name is Emma.  

I was born with Cerebral Palsy.  Most people don't know that in developed countries, more than 95% of people who require a wheelchair have access to one.  In developing countries,  less  than 10% of people who require a wheelchair have access to one. This is a  huge discrepancy, and something I feel needs to change.  My goal is to help bring attention to this issue, so that hopefully one day this percentage is no longer such an alarming truth. The thought of someone laying helplessly on the ground right now breaks my heart.  If it was possible to take every person who lives in these countries that don't have access to wheelchairs out of their environments and give them the life they deserve, I would.   Since I can’t, this is my way of helping people who can’t help themselves. I have been blessed with an amazing life.  I’ve had opportunities many people with disabilities will never get to experience in other countries. My wheelchair is part of my identity. I am very aware that without it, my life would be a lot harder than it is. When I'm not in my wheelchair, I'm completely disconnected from the world. The fact that people aren't able to afford what I consider to be a basic necessity for my quality of life makes me so sad. To me, the thought of not being able to have my wheelchair is equivalent to the face of a little kid coming up to me in public asking,  "Why are you in a wheelchair?"  They usually have this look of pure shock and amazement on their face. To which I politely respond, " This helps me get around, because my legs don't work as well as yours do."  I can't imagine not having it. These experiences include, getting a quality education and obtaining a High School diploma, having access to quality healthcare that allows me to have all the assistive technology equipment I need, skiing down mountains thanks to an adaptive sports program I’ve been involved in, going on cruises with my family, as well as being surrounded with love and support my entire life.  I don’t take any of these opportunities for granted. I realize that there are people born all over the world with the same disability, who don’t have the same opportunities. Even as I type this, there are people with disabilities laying on the ground, because they don't have the money to afford the equipment they need. Here in the US, we're very fortunate. I think what is so fantastic about this organization is that they truly want to help people just for the sake of helping them. JoniandFrends is a Christian nonprofit organization.  Joni Erickson Tada is the founder of this organization. She became paralyzed from the neck down at age 17, after a diving accident. There are many different programs JoniandFriends offers.  Joni started a program called Wheels for the World.  This is the specific program I’m asking for donations to. This program allows people to raise money in order to go on mission trips, and deliver customized wheelchairs to people who otherwise wouldn’t get off the ground.  Not only do they give people wheelchairs, but they also give them a Bible. This organization really emphasizes spreading the love of Jesus. They want people to know how very loved they are by Him.  They rely on donations of gently used wheelchairs. Once they have enough wheelchairs, they are distributed to different prisons in the area for a group of inmates to refurbish them. I hope to one day go on a mission trip myself with this organization.  I hope I can witness the real,  raw, and  heartfelt emotions of the people receiving these life changing gifts.  My heart beams at the thought of this.