| Our Wheelchair programme began many years ago when Ronan and Seán two highly skilled and hard working volunteers would visit Belarus annually, often twice a year and even work during the year while at home in Ireland on wheelchairs for the children in Belarus. It was a subsection of our Medical Programme that has evolved into one of the biggest parts of the ongoing work done by Burren Chernobyl Project. Read on for more information about the programme and how one volunteer has changed the lives of so many children and young people with disabilities in Belarus. |  |
BCP have helped over one hundred wheelchair users in Belarus. Mainly children in Cherven Orphanage but also many community cases in small towns and villages, some that have asked for help directly, others that have been passed on by the local hospice due to lack of resources.
The expertise needed to measure and make specialised wheelchairs is immense. The knowledge and skill required, not to mention the patience and understanding needed when working with some very weak children and complicated cases are a combination of qualities very hard to come by in general, and to add giving all of that plus your evenings, holidays, time away from family, FOR FREE well now, that takes someone special.
That someone special is our Seán. Seán is an incredibly humble, hardworking man who has volunteered with BCP for many many years now. His talent and attention to detail is outstanding and if you have been lucky enough to travel at the same time as him you probably wouldn’t have seen much of him as he works from first thing in the morning till late into the night, barely stopping for a cuppa. Always smiling and cracking a joke with his cúpla focail of Russian! I’m going to stop now before he gives out to me for lying but he really is that good of a guy!
While well fitted, specialised, comfortable wheelchairs are not available to all children in Belarus who need them (not nearly enough!) they also should not be considered a luxury. They are a necessity. They are vital for the health and well being of the wheelchair user. Correct wheelchair positioning is vital, if the chair is too tight it can hurt your hips, cause the skin to breakdown or pinch. If it’s too wide you could slip or slump which can lead to bad posture which in turn can cause back pain and compression of internal organs. There are so many more variables to consider to avoid twisting of feet, stress on joints, pressure sores and much more. Many of the cases Seán deals with are very complex and so require very specific and tricky adjustments.
Seán pretty much single handedly creates custom built wheelchairs to suit each specific case from scratch. Whether the chair is bought, or donated every single one is measured and built to that person's shape and needs. He alters and builds seating systems bringing specialised foam, brackets, straps etc with him and he buys the plywood in Belarus. Some of the Cherven and community cases also require special splints, footwear and therapy programmes.
While well fitted, specialised, comfortable wheelchairs are not available to all children in Belarus who need them (not nearly enough!) they also should not be considered a luxury. They are a necessity. They are vital for the health and well being of the wheelchair user. Correct wheelchair positioning is vital, if the chair is too tight it can hurt your hips, cause the skin to breakdown or pinch. If it’s too wide you could slip or slump which can lead to bad posture which in turn can cause back pain and compression of internal organs. There are so many more variables to consider to avoid twisting of feet, stress on joints, pressure sores and much more. Many of the cases Seán deals with are very complex and so require very specific and tricky adjustments.
Seán pretty much single handedly creates custom built wheelchairs to suit each specific case from scratch. Whether the chair is bought, or donated every single one is measured and built to that person's shape and needs. He alters and builds seating systems bringing specialised foam, brackets, straps etc with him and he buys the plywood in Belarus. Some of the Cherven and community cases also require special splints, footwear and therapy programmes.
When Seán is home in Ireland working away on chairs to bring out to Belarus he gets help from Phylis Bacon a former colleague of his to do the embroidery work on the foam cushions in the seating system. Phylis makes sure all of Seáns work looks as professional on the outside as it is underneath the fabric. She uses lovely bright colours to personalise them and make them less austere. Another very talented person we are extremely grateful to have as part of the team, thank you Phylis!
Seán’s trips are always jam packed. With scores of people to see to he really has no time to spare. On his most recent trip to Belarus however, just two weeks ago there were three very important cases, the three chairs were sent out on the most recent truck of humanitarian aid sent in February and Seán was delivering them to three very special children.
Seán’s trips are always jam packed. With scores of people to see to he really has no time to spare. On his most recent trip to Belarus however, just two weeks ago there were three very important cases, the three chairs were sent out on the most recent truck of humanitarian aid sent in February and Seán was delivering them to three very special children.
Liza, |  Seán and Liza in Cherven. |
 Angelina and her Mum out in the Park enjoying the fresh air. | Angelina, |
Kirill, |  Kirill delighted, in disbelief!  Kirill and Alosha talking shop and checking out the new ride! |
It’s clear to see the important role Seán plays in our operations in Belarus. We are forever indebted to the invaluable work you do.
Seán, from the bottom of our hearts, go raibh míle maith agat!
Большое спасибо Шон, наш герой!
Seán, from the bottom of our hearts, go raibh míle maith agat!
Большое спасибо Шон, наш герой!
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