YOURS FOR THE ASKING: Singleton shire member of Wednesday Wheelie Warriors, Darren Wilks, is pictured with some of the wheelchairs and other equipment for disabled adults and children his charity group has to give away.
DARREN Wilks has a garage full of wheelchairs and other equipment to give away to children and adults with disabilities.
And there’s more in the garages of his mates who also volunteer for the charity group Wednesday Wheelie Warriors.
The Elderslie resident couldn’t believe it when he was told that Sydney’s Lucas Gardens School for intellectually and physically handicapped was closing and there were loads of gear available if someone could pick it up.
“They were going to send it all off to recyclers or the garbage dump if no-one wanted it,” he said.
“The government relocated the school to another Sydney suburb and fitted it out with everything new, so the old stuff had to go.
“There are wheelchairs, spinal therapy equipment, activity gear, hoists for moving disabled adults and children around, shower and toilet frames, walking frames, crutches, all sorts of things, even mobility scooters.”
Wednesday Wheelie Warriors is a group that helps people, especially children, with disabilities.
Members have special motorbikes, built to carry wheelchairs, which they use to take people with disabilities for rides.
Mr Wilks said: “We’ve been going to Lucas Gardens regularly for a while, taking the children for rides.
“So when the school closed the principal thought, rather than waste all this gear, the Wheelie Warriors might be able to do something with it.
“So now we’d like to give it to anyone who could use it.”
Mr Wilks said that while some of the gear showed signs of wear and tear, most of it was in very good condition.
“We’ve been told some electric wheelchairs could cost as much as $6000 new or a spinal walker could cost $10,000, but this is not about money, it’s about finding people who can use it so we can freely give it to them,” he said.
“We’ve given some things to Whitmore Enterprises and a few things to Singleton Hospital, and just as I was leaving the hospital a man came up to me who was looking for a wheelchair and walker for his 86-year-old mother.
“Mr Wilks said anyone interested in the equipment could ring him on 4938 1865, or Wednesday Wheelie Warriors spokesman in Sydney, Richard Bassett on 9692 0569.