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Yellowknifer's passion brings hope to Mexicans

Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Friday, May 1, 2009

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Catholic school district is getting behind a Yellowknifer's efforts to raise money for an operation so a wheelchair-bound Mexican girl can walk.

NNSL Photo/Graphic

Yellowknifer Barry Talbot stands with the mother and aunt of four-year old Airam Guadalupe Ortega as she receives a new wheelchair in Mexico last month. Fundraising efforts are being undertaken by Yellowknife Catholic Schools students so Ortega can get an operation and possibly be able to walk. - photo courtesy of Barry Talbot

Barry Talbot has delivered more than 1,600 wheelchairs to Mexicans in need, giving them a new life and mobility that so many take for granted.

"With this last (group of wheelchairs) going to Playa (Del Carmen), there will be over 1,600 chairs gone to Mexico - close to $200,000 in chairs," Talbot said of the amount of wheelchairs delivered since April 2005.

"I can't stop. It still amazes me."

During his most recent visit to the Mexican city of Obregon, the same place he delivered an ambulance in November 2008, he met a young girl who, as he puts it, he "couldn't walk away from."

Airam Guadalupe Ortega, 4, was at the delivery of wheelchairs in the tiny village of Esperanza. Talbot spoke with the girl's mother and learned Airam was in need of an operation that would most likely give her the ability to walk.

"When I go to these deliveries I don't talk to everybody, but I pick out some people. Most of them can't speak English, but through an interpreter I tried to get sort of what their story is," said Talbot.

The young girl's "mom and her aunt were there, so I started to talk with them," he said. "Airam was disabled at birth. With an operation on the back of her legs, there's a 95 per cent chance she would be able to walk."

The mother is single and unemployed. So far she has saved about $300 for the operation, which will cost $2,000 to $3,000.

"When I talked to her, I couldn't walk away from her, because I know I have money that I could give to it," said Talbot.

He said there is a doctor at the Rotary Club in that area of Mexico who will be organizing the financing and operation.

Talbot said after speaking with Yellowknife Catholic Schools (YCS) and showing Airam's picture, the schools district has taken on the fundraising efforts themselves.

"We are going to have involvement from all our schools," said Claudia Parker, assistant superintendent for YCS. "We see this as a great project."

She said social justice issues are part of the mandate of YCS, and many of the Catholic school students in Yellowknife have taken on similar projects in the past.

Parker said some of the past fundraising events held by students included penny drives, selling popcorn or pizza and family dances.

The students "will figure out what the plan will be and put it into place," she said.

Next November Talbot said he plans to meet with the Ortega family and take pictures of Airam's progress to show the YCS students.

Talbot is also making plans to have more wheelchairs delivered to various Mexican cities.

"Even in this last delivery, there were people who came looking for chairs, so I'm going to do another container for that area. I have one going to San Carlos in probably September, and another one going to Irapauato. These are all paid for, these were actually donated by friends of mine, Allan and Linda Wood of Edmonton," he said.

Talbot is also in need of $5,000 for the container, or group, of wheelchairs for the city of Playa Del Carmen.

"I need about $16,500 and I'm about $5,000 short," he said.

Many Rotary members and the club have donated a majority of funds for this container. Talbot said he is hoping to have it there by November..

"If anyone wants to add or be a part of (raising the last $5,000) they can."

During this last visit the Calgary Rotary Club and Talbot's friend, Joe Latremouille, had raised $15,000 which was donated to some schools for air conditioners, computers, sports equipment and renovations. Asked if he plans to continue fundraising for new wheelchairs, he said simply, "It's my passion."