Al Bonney has been involved with Wheels of Hope since its inception in 2008, and has served as chair of the board since then. He first learned of the cause from Ann Lee Hussey, a polio survivor who had traveled to Nigeria with Rotary International. Ann Lee had spent time with Ayuba Gufwan, who sought to make wheelchairs for others like him — those who could not walk and needed mobility to make a life for themselves. Read more about the Wheels of Hope beginnings here.
In the following, Al reflects on the reasons that he got involved in Wheels of Hope and why he maintains that commitment to this day.
Talking with Ann Lee I learned that Ayuba’s process and his wheelchair shop was so simple and clear. There was no clutter and no glitz. One gave him $150, he built a wheelchair and gave it to a polio survivor and another person was mobile, had a new life and could lead a life of dignity for the rest of his life. It was that simple.
Ann Lee asked me to lead a grant application effort to benefit Ayuba and the Beautiful Gate Handicapped People’s Center. Now I was involved in the plan, and with skin in the game myself, I was off and running.
I’ve stayed involved all these years partly due to my visit to Nigeria in 2012. On that trip I spent three days in Jos and met Ayuba and his family. I worked in the shop for a day, met the workers and saw the process of building a wheelchair. I was also able to attend a wheelchair distribution ceremony where Ayuba delivered and presented wheelchairs to often 50-75 polio survivor recipients. During this ceremony I was able to sit (on the ground) and talk with some of the recipients – looking them straight in the eye. We talked about their work or school, their families and what the wheelchair would mean to them. At another level, Ayuba and I have become friends. He calls on the phone at least once a month. He has been to Traverse City twice to meet our board and talk with some neighboring clubs. Getting close to Ayuba, the wheelchair construction process, and meeting the recipients galvanized my commitment that we were doing a good thing and it was a worthy effort that must continue. The initial clarity and simplicity of the project that attracted me in the first place continues, but now I understand it on a personal level and I know the value the wheelchairs bring to the recipient’s lives. Staying committed and involved has been easy; it has become part of my life.