Western Australian charity Wheels for Hope will continue to provide the gift of mobility to families with disabilities following another record-breaking Telethon.
For 56 years, WA people and organisations have demonstrated their generosity in supporting Telethon, helping tackle life-threatening illnesses facing children.
This year, MinRes was proud to contribute $2 million to another record-breaking Telethon, which will help WA charity beneficiary Wheels for Hope continue changing lives.
Wheels for Hope is a WA charity that delivers the gift of mobility by providing access to wheelchair-accessible vehicles on a loan basis.
For those living with a disability, the cost of a wheelchair-accessible vehicle can be prohibitively expensive and make it difficult to attend medical appointments, school and social activities.
Wheels for Hope provides families with access to a vehicle that is insured, licensed and serviced by the charity.
MinRes Director People Andrea Chapman said MinRes' Telethon contribution will fund the purchase of two new wheelchair-accessible vans for Wheels for Hope.
“Like everyone at MinRes, I'm proud to know our Telethon donation will help children right across our wonderful state,” Andrea said.
“We're blown away by Telethon's continued impact and the inspiring work of beneficiaries such as Wheels for Hope, which are genuinely changing the lives of so many WA families.”
A Wheels for Hope van was recently provided to Rockingham mum Allana Maksimovic and her 15-year-old daughter, Alecia, who has cerebral palsy.
“I’ve been lifting Alecia in and out of the car for 15 years. The lifting has taken a toll on my wrists and my back – and I can’t do that anymore. To see Alecia smiling and now being able to do the hoist herself, it’s a godsend,” Allana said.
“To everyone who has funded the van – Wheels for Hope, Mineral Resources, Telethon – I can’t say thank you enough. This van has given Alecia freedom and independence, it really has changed our lives.”
Wheels for Hope Chairman David Fraser sad the organisation would not exist without the generous support of charity partners like Telethon and MinRes.
“Their invaluable support will allow us to deliver the gift of mobility to families who live with disability," David said.
"While mobility is something many of us take for granted, for these families these gifts truly are life changing.”
Wheels for Hope coordinates a fleet of vehicles supporting over 100 families across Western Australia.
To learn more about the positive impact MinRes is making in communities where it operates, read the 2024 Social Investment Report.
