You talk funny 3

In the above photo, a young man with Cerebral Palsy shows off his walking skills to Bob and Cheryl Buckley. Bob is Council Chairman for Lions District 201, which is all of Australia and Papua. Several children with this disability walked right around the conference. And I came across the following....
Dear Council Chairman Lion Nick Herrold,
Congratulations! The New Zealand Hart Walker Project has been selected as one of three finalists for the International Hero Award in the category of District Service Project. The International Hero Awards were created to recognise the Everyday Heroes who have made a difference in the world by performing miracles through service.
You are invited to join us at the International Hero Awards Banquet on Thursday, July 9th, in the Minneapolis Convention Center Ballroom in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, during the 2009 Lions Club International Convention. At the banquet, all finalists will be recognised and the winner will be announced.
Once again, congratulations on this outstanding achievement!
Kristopher Kempski
Communications Coordinator,
Lions Clubs International.
Well, Nick, it is an awful job, but someone has to do it. I hope you take Alyssa McCarty and her family, and the organiser of the project in New Zealand, Genny Hanning. These are the real Heroes.

You talk funny 2

David Hart was a Medical Engineer from Yorkshire, England.
Some years ago he was approached by a couple with a handicapped child, who asked him to 'invent' a device to support the child in a more upright position.
The result was far beyond that. Eventually, David Hart was able to make a frame in which the child could walk.
The Hart Walker has over 1000 parts, and is infinitely adjustable. Each one costs about $NZ10,000.00.
In Australia and New Zealand, Lions Clubs pay for the Walkers wherever they are required. In many cases, they pay for the fitting as well, and they certainly organise all the six monthly re-measures.
This day at the Scout Hall in Johnsonville was organised by the Johnsonville Lions Club. They do everything from making the lunch, and the modest sign outside saying 'Another Lions Club Project' gives no hint of the drama happening inside.
In the above photo, standing behind Alyssa is Dr. Maureen Murphy, and her husband, Lions International President Al Brandel. Standing beside a STANDING Alyssa is her mother, Donna.

Before he left, Al presented the President of the Johnsonville Lions Club, Stephen Cook, with his banner. During this presentation, Al pointed out that his slogan for his year as International President was "Miracles through Service". He expanded on this, saying "Miracles through service, performed by every day Heroes". And after what we had all just seen, all knew that he was right.

I saw many highlights while in Wellington photographing the Lions Multi district Convention. However, in my view, Al and Alyssa and some of her mates, were the main event.

You talk funny....

She is Alyssa McCarty. She is seven years old. She is bright, and unlike many with Cerebral Palsy, she speaks very well. She comes from Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand.

Alyssa is lying on a grey blanket, on the floor of the Johnsonville Scout Hall, on the outskirts of Wellington. She is being measured for adjustments to be made to her Hart Walker. She does this twice a year.

He is Albert Brandel. He is big, and tough. He is a retired Police detective from New York City. He is also the President of Lions International, responsible for 1.3 million volunteers who belong to Lions worldwide.
There is no grey blanket left for Al, he is on the floor.
Al has never done this before.

She says to him...... "You talk funny".
He says.... "You talk funny too" and then starts a long conversation about Kindy, School, home, family, walking.
So why would the World President of Lions International be doing such a thing?