Clarke Physical Therapy Students Seeking Wheels for the World Donations

The Clarke University Organization of Student Physical Therapists (COSPT) is again seeking donations of used or broken wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, or canes, to change lives with the gift of mobility.

COSPT will collect assistive devices from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at the main entrance of the Marie Miske Center for Science Inquiry on the Clarke campus. If unable to donate that day, please call (563) 588-6382 to make arrangements to drop items off in the Physical Therapy office in the main lobby of Catherine Byrne Hall.

The items will be donated to Wheels for the World, a non-profit organization that refurbishes the devices and sends them to countries without access to such devices. Wheels for the World collects the items that are refurbished by inmates at a correctional facility in Kansas. The wheelchairs are then shipped worldwide where teams of physical or occupational therapists, wheelchair mechanics, and others assist with distribution. The gift of a wheelchair or other assistive device can transform the life of a person with a disability.

Associate Professor of Physical Therapy Brad Kruse, DPT/Ed.D. said, “Clarke’s Physical Therapy department has been involved in this charity for more than 13 years. We are thankful for the donations from various care facilities and individual members of the greater Dubuque community. The collection of used wheelchairs and other assistive devices keeps material out of the landfill. Once the devices are refurbished, they support the mobility of individuals around the world who are in need. We are thankful for the opportunity to continue to support the mission of Wheels for the World.”

DPT student Aidan Philpot shared, “Wheels for the World provides a tangible way to make a difference by collecting assistive devices and donating them to be refurbished, and eventually given to people who otherwise may not have access to them. It is a great opportunity for students to get involved in a service that benefits people who we may never have the privilege of meeting or interacting with otherwise. I am proud to be involved in the planning and collection of assistive devices through Wheels for the World.”