“To provide the transforming gift of mobility to the physically disabled poor in developing countries." This is the mission of the Free Wheelchair Mission and a goal of the student organization, LECOM Cares.

LECOM Cares presented more than $25,000 to the Free Wheelchair Mission. The donation will provide 625 wheelchairs for disabled people in underserved countries.

LECOM Director of International Affairs Reza Nassiri, D.Sc., developed LECOM Cares to coordinate humanitarian relief efforts by LECOM students following the December 2004 tsunami. The International Medical Society, Muslim Student Association, Student Government, Christian Medical & Dental Society and other student organizations have contributed to LECOM Cares fund drives for victims of recent hurricanes in the United States and the Pakistani earthquake.

LECOM travel coordinator Dina Nassiri saw an article in Readers Digest and later in People Magazine about Don Schoendorfer, Ph.D., president and founder of the Free Wheelchair Mission. His story compelled Mrs. Nassiri to organize a fund drive to purchase wheelchairs.

Dr. Schoendorfer attended the dinner and received the contribution. He described his invention and told how he plans to give away 20 million chairs by 2010. A visit to Africa moved Dr. Shoendorfer to take action when he saw disabled people dragging themselves along the ground. In 1999, Dr. Schoendorfer, using his engineering expertise, constructed a wheelchair that could be inexpensively made and shipped to the disabled poor in developing countries. The simple design is made from lawn chairs and bicycle tires which create a wheelchair rugged enough to endure the dirt roads and rough terrain. These wheelchairs cost just $41.17 each, but are priceless to the people who receive them.

Today, the project has grown to become the worldwide Free Wheelchair Mission.

“I was absolutely in awe of the community involvement and compassion which was demonstrated by those speaking on behalf of LECOM,” Jeanne Sykes, of Erie, told Provost Silvia Ferretti, D.O. Sykes attended the dinner with her friend Stephany Esper, D.O. “Thank you does not begin to express my feelings of gratitude for all that you and your staff do for this community and now obviously on an international level.”

Locally, the organization has helped train LECOM students to become HIV/AIDs awareness educators for the Erie County (PA) Health Department. They have made presentations at churches, community centers, middle schools, high schools and social clubs in raising the awareness for HIV and STDs.