A Christian volunteer team in Jiangsu carried out a remote tour for the disabled.
On May 13, before the 31st National Disability Day, Reed’s Home, a civil charity organization in Zhenjiang organized a public welfare activity titled "Touring the World from a Wheelchair in a Beautiful New Era" at Yizheng Expo Park in Yangzhou.
Among the 29 disabled people from all over Zhenjiang who participated in the event, the 65-year-old Qiao Guohua was the oldest person. When she was six months old she was diagnosed with polio, gradually losing the feeling in her legs. At the age of 30, she could only go out with the help of crutches and a disability vehicle.
In order to support her family, she drove an electric tricycle to earn money for ten years.
She said, "For the past decade, despite rain or sunshine, I have picked up guests to raise my family. I also encountered a lot of difficulties during this period; for instance, some people ran away without paying after long rides."
After electric tricycles were banned, Qiao had to rely on government subsidies to survive. Two years ago, her husband passed away, while her daughter began to settle in Shanghai. Living alone, she rarely went out, let alone travelling far away.
In addition, Qiao added that she planned to donate her body after her death to repay society for helping her.
Suffering from polio also, Wu Changyou, aged 51, is unmarried and unable to walk. For decades, his parents have taken care of him.
Another disabled person surnamed Liang shared, "Thanks to this activity, I need not travel to Sichuan to see pandas, as I’m too old to tour. Now I can catch sight of China's national treasure in Yangzhou."
Every year, the Christian volunteer team carries out two or three tours for the disabled, providing one-on-one assistance and whole-process accompanying services to ensure their safety, according to Chi Guihua, leader of the Disabled Assistance Group of Reed’s Home.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
