Segway for Veterans: Segs4Vets.org

Segs4Vets is a volunteer grass-roots project which donates Segways to disabled American veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.

These brave servicemen have sustained injuries which have resulted in the amputation of one or both legs, extensive soft tissue and muscle injuries, traumatic burn injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological injuries and disorders.

The Segway restores a certain level of mobility that these servicemen had lost, improving their psychological and physiological quality of life.

segs4vets_small

Yesterday, we were honored to attend the most recent Segs4Vets award ceremony at the Marine Corps War Memorial (aka Iwo Jima Memorial) outside Washington D.C. where 50 disabled servicemen from the United States Army, Marines, and National Guard were honored for their courage and sacrifice with the gift of a Segway.

It was a moving tribute to those servicemen who, like their predecessors at Gettysburg, risked their lives in the service of their country.

To date, Segs4Vets has provided Segway Personal Transporters to more than 500 disabled veterans. Shortly before his tragic death, Jimi Heselden, the owner of the parent company of Segway, Inc., donated 1000 Segways to this very worthwhile cause.

Segs4Vets is a project of DRAFT (Disability Rights Advocates for Technology) which “represents people with disabilities who refuse to be defined by their disability and whose passionate enthusiasm for participating in life’s activities is supported by Universal Design and new and emerging technologies.”

DRAFT has been awarded the Seal of Excellence by the Independent Charities of America, classifying it in the elite group of charities which “upon rigorous independent review, been able to certify, document, and demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness.”

In fact, Segs4Vets is one of the rare charities that can claim that 100% of the donations go directly to the program. Administrative costs are paid by the Board of Directors and Advisory Board.

Please watch the Segs4Vets video on YouTube and consider a tax-deductible donation to this worthy cause.




Post a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.