¦ October 16, 2005
Schmidt Foundation Helps Paralympian
Specialized racing wheelchair unveiled at California

FONTANA, Calif. – Sam Schmidt was celebrating his team’s 20th Menards Infiniti Pro Series pole position Saturday when a customized racing wheelchair was rolled out next to the #7 Lucas Oil/Sam Schmidt Motorsports machine during the post-qualifying photo session. The chair is a gift to Ajarah Booytse, a paralympian from Ghana, who will compete in the 2008 Paralympics in China.



The wheelchair originally came to Wheels For the World, a program operated by Joni and Friends, which has distributed more than 35,000 wheelchairs to individuals in 64 countries. The used chair needed custom wheels to be returned to racing condition. Schmidt, paralyzed himself, did not hesitate to donate the carbon-fiber wheels via the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation.



“The most important part of the donation of this racing chair to Ajarah Boytse - the para-athlete in Ghana - is that she has been able to change the image of disabled persons in Ghana. Anyone with a disability in Ghana is usually completely outcast - from their family and their society. All of a sudden, with her using the chair, she's become the country's hero,” Schmidt said.



"It's amazing what a difference a wheel chair can make for someone that's never had access to one. In Ghana, the efforts of organizations donating wheelchairs has helped improve life for people with disabilities. There's always room to improve, but it's lifted the quality of life so these people can participate in society and really get a chance to enjoy life.



"Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, kind of appropriately for us since I'm all about wheels and speed, donated the ZIPP wheels for this Eagle racing wheelchair. These wheels are very specialized, carbon-fiber racing wheels, and they're expensive. They were the hold-up in getting the racing bike rebuilt and sent to Ghana. The Foundation donated the wheels so Wheels for the World/Joni and Friends can get this chair delivered to Ms. Boytse next week. She'll be competing in the 2008 Paralympics in China,” he added.



Schmidt, a winning race car driver who is now a quadriplegic car owner in the Infiniti Pro Series, is founder of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation (www.samschmidt.org), which helps individuals overcome spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances. This research also benefits stroke victims and people diagnosed with ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. SSPF also addresses quality of life issues benefiting people with paralysis and other disabilities through its Day At The Races program, and works tirelessly promoting advocacy concerns.



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