The Walkabout Foundation

Mission

The Walkabout Foundation’s mission is two-fold: to actively pursue a cure for paralysis by funding research programs identified as promising by its partner organizations, and to provide wheelchairs to those who cannot afford one or obtain one from local health organizations. For those who need one, a wheelchair is not only a right to mobility, but also a right to freedom and independence.

Funding Research for a Cure for Paralysis

Today, there is reason for hope as scientists are closer than ever to finding a cure for paralysis. In the United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, and Israel, doctors are working hard to re-establish function for those living with paralysis using a variety of different techniques, including stem cells and schwann cells. At the Miami Project, “the largest, most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center in the world,” scientists are on the brink of discovering a clinical treatment for those living with spinal cord injuries and have presented to the FDA a “clinical trial plan” for schwann cell transplants. Schwann cells are an integral component of nerves found within the spinal cord and are known for their role in supporting nerve regeneration. For more information, please click here.

On March 9, 2009, President Obama lifted federal restrictions on human embryonic stem cell research. Stem cells are incredibly valuable to a person who is paralyzed because of their ability to regenerate damaged nerves in both the brain and spinal cord. As a result of President Obama’s actions, the FDA has endorsed the first human clinical trials of human embryonic stem cells and Geron Corporation, a biotech company, will “mount a study of its stem-cell treatment for spinal cord injuries in up to 10 patients.”

The Walkabout Foundation will donate half the funds raised to various individual research grants that continue the fruitful work of stem cells via the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation receive thousands of research grant applications each year and ultimately chooses a handful to support. Walkabout will fund those grants it believes are most promising.

Donating Wheelchairs to those in Need

The Walkabout Foundation has currently sourced wheelchairs from Whirlwind Wheelchair International. By purchasing wheelchairs in bulk, Walkabout has been able to procure a discounted rate for each wheelchair. Furthermore, by purchasing wheelchairs from Whirlwind Wheelchair International, The Walkabout Foundation is assisting a non-profit social enterprise that not only manufactures wheelchairs for the developing world in the developing world, but also employs people with disabilities. Fore more information, please click here.

Each wheelchair is light, foldable, durable and has all-terrain wheels. President Bill Clinton has endorsed the work of The Walkabout Foundation by saying “we need the things that The Walkabout Foundation can give and these wheelchairs that they provide only cost about $150 dollars, they are not heavy, they are flexible, they are light, and they don’t get taken out of commission very easily.”

Furthermore, Walkabout has partnered with the William J. Clinton Foundation and Partners in Health to manage the disbursement and distribution of the donated wheelchairs. The Walkabout Foundation will leverage the local infrastructure and network of both these organizations to ensure that each wheelchair is given to the appropriate person, with the right degree of prior knowledge and training.