Palm Beach County woman changing lives of mobility challenged children

Changing the lives of mobility challenged children in need is the mission of a Palm Beach County woman.

A PALM BEACH COUNTY WOMAN WHOWORKS TIRELESSLY TO HELPPURCHASE AND REPAIRWHEELCHAIRS FOR CHILDREN INNEED WPTV NEWSCHANNEL 5'SERICA RAKOW INTRODUCES US TOHER-- IN TONIGHT'S INSPIRINGSOUTH FLORID<< NAT SEQUENCE "BIKE ANDWHEEL CHAIR ROLLING OUT OFSTORAGE UNIT BIKE HORN HONK"TUCKED AWAY IN THE BACK OFTHIS LAKE WORTH STORAGEFACILITY..

IS SOME PRETTSPECIAL EQUIPMENT.

THIS WOULDBE A REALLY NICE GIFT FORSOMEBODY THE GIFT OFMOBILITY..

FOR WHEELCHAIRBOUND CHILDREN..

WHAT COULD BEMORE AMAZING?

NAT- THIS RUNSABOUT 40K COULD BE..

THAT IT'SABSOLUTELY FREE TO THE CHILDAND THEIR FAMILY.

I WASVOLUNTEERING AT THE ROYAL PALMSCHOOL HERE IN LANTANA I JUSTBECAME AWARE OF THE CONDITIONOF SOME OF THE WHEEL CHAIRSAND I WAS REALLY SURPISED IN2010, VALERIE MATHIEU DECIDEDTO DO MORE THEN VOLUNTEER TIMEAT THE SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL."WERE ABLE TO MAKE A PLAN TOPROVIDE THE CORRECT MEDICALEQUIPMENT FOR THEM." NATS"WHEELCHAIRS" 120 CHILDRENHAVE RECEIVED A NEW WHEELCHAIROR HAD THEIRS REFURBISHED.WE'RE TALKING CHILDREN WITHCONDITIONS SUCH AS CEREBRALPALSY..

LIKE THIS CHILD-- WHOIS ACTUALLY IN FOSTER CARE."IT DID NOT SUIT HIS MEDICALNEEDS.

IT WAS TIPPING OVERBACKWARDS WITH ALL THEEQUIPMENT THAT HE HAS TO CARRYWITH HIM," NAT SEQUENCE THEIRLIVELIHOOD RELIES ONSPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT..

THATINSURANCE DOESN'T OFTEN COVER."AS LONG AS I HAVE FUNDS, WEWILL PROVIDE WHATEVER THATCHILD NEEDS..TO THE BEST OFOUR ABILITY.

EVERYTIME YOU SEETHE CHILD OR THE FAMILY ANDHOW GRATEFUL THEY ARE FOR THEGIFT.

IT JUST MOVES YOU TO DOMORE." A SMILE LIKE THIS IS..IS WHAT ENERGIZES HER ANDKEEPS HER GOING.

THAT JUSTGOES RIGHT TO MY HEART ANDTHATS WHAT I HAVE ON MY BRAINWHEN I GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHTALL SHE CAN..

SHE DOES..

AFTERAN OVERNIGHT SHIFT AT WORK ANDMAYBE A FEW ROUNDS ON THE ICEPRACTICING HER HOBBYSPORT....YOU'LL FIND VALERIEHERE.

THIS IS MY FAVORITEQUOTE, FROM RONALD REAGAN, ANDI BELIEVE IT COMPLETELY, ITSAYS YOU CANBUT EVERYONE CAN HELP SOMEONE.SO I CANBUT THE KIDS I CAN HELP, IDO ALL I CAN SO THE NEXT "GIFTOF MOBILITY" IS HAPPENING THISWEEK.

A SPECIAL ADOPTED BOYWILL BE GETTING A BIKE FITJUST FOR HIM.

HIS STORY-- ANDHIS*INCREDIBL* MOM WHOFOSTERS MEDICALLY FRAGILECHILDREN..

IS PART 2-- COMINGUP IN NEXT WEEKS INSPIRINGSOUTH FLORIDA.

BACK TO YOU.