LFP - Large-Format-Printing

Wings for handicapped gives children an unforgettable experience

Thursday 16. December 2010 - Wings for handicapped wants to improve the mobility of handicapped and seriously ill children. They take the children on the Hoppetosse for an unforgettable trip on the water. The name of the boat refers to the boat of Pippi Longstocking's father. Pippi Longstocking is the most powerful girl in the world that fears nothing or nobody. She makes the impossible possible. And that is what Wings for handicapped wants to achieve.

Wings for handicapped, or short w4h, was founded in 2000 by Jörg Leonhardt. Leonhardt was paralysed at age 18 as a result of a car crash. He’s in a wheelchair, but that doesn’t discourage him to live an active life. He dives, flies and plays wheelchair basketball. Leonhardt has a mission: he wants to show handicapped and seriously ill children that they too can fulfil their dreams and open up new horizons.

w4h takes children on an exciting trip on a 8.6m long rubber speedboat. Leonhardt steers the boat himself. Leonhardt: “The human being is central to us, not his restriction. We give the children the opportunity to strengthen their self-awareness and have unforgettable experiences.”

w4h organizes all sorts of events for handicapped and ill children. The association also participates to tens of exhibitions in order to promote their work and to return the favour to its sympathizers. “The only financial resources we have come from gifts. Trade shows give us the opportunity to bring attention to the people and companies that support us. This way, we want to thank them for their financial or material help. Roland DG is one of the companies that support us. They gave us a GX-24 cutting plotter. We use this machine to make stickers for the boat, cars and T-shirts. My sisters make the design and I operate the cutting plotter. That’s not hard at all” says Leonhardt.

Already hundreds of children were taken on the Hoppetosse for a trip. Now that they’ve conquered the water, they want to explore the atmosphere as well. w4h takes children into an ultra light airplane. The possibilities to broaden horizons are endless…