Media Release: Cram Foundation

Two Illawarra charities combine to provide a better life for disabled Cambodian boy

Thursday 8th November

Two Illawarra based charities have combined to provide a better chance in life for a young Cambodian boy with Australian based charity help2help sending a highly specialised wheelchair donated by the Cram Foundation across to the village of Kampong Kdei where the 11 year old lives.

The wheelchair was previously used by a profoundly disabled client who lives in a group home in Albion Park managed by the Cram Foundation. Due to the specialist nature of the wheelchair and despite various offers to local organisations, including special schools and hospitals, help2help offered to take the wheelchair and transport it to Cambodia.

CEO for the Cram Foundation Gareth McKeen comments “It is wonderful that two local charities have combined to provide a young Cambodian boy not only with a wheelchair, but with a better chance for an improved life. Cram bought the chair from our donations fund and whilst we were keen for the chair to remain in the Illawarra, when Help2help approached us we were happy with the outcome”Faye Webb, founder of Help2help comments “In April we met a young boy in a remote village named Ratha. He had not left his house for 8 years due to his physical disability as his mother was unable to carry him. We purchased a pram as a temporary measure bringing Ratha great joy but limited freedom. The wheelchair donated by the Cram Foundation was delivered to Ratha in October this year and this bright and happy boy has now been able to attend school for the first time in his life. He and his family live in abject poverty but have been overwhelmed with the donation which has changed their lives. We did not know at the time of meeting Ratha but have since been told that his mother was approached by traffickers days after meeting us and was offered $2000 for Ratha, a common offering in Cambodia. His mother believed that something good may come from meeting us and she declined. I think it was fate that we met Ratha”. The Cram Foundation (formerly Cram House) provides 24 hour a day support in group homes for people with a profound disability. Help2help is a Australian based charity that was set up in 2011 by the Webb family to provide assistance to impoverished communities on the outskirts of Siem Reap.