Posted: June 22, 2006

Running: Imagine - A Run Across America

William Hibbard Warms Up for his Mission Across America!

Costa Mesa, CA – Imagine: the 100 million disabled people in developing countries, who today must crawl on the ground, suddenly owning a wheelchair. That’s the goal of Free Wheelchair Mission, which will benefit from the efforts of William Hibbard, owner and CEO of New Orange Hills, a sub-acute healthcare facility, and a long time marathon runner, as he undertakes a cross-country trek to raise money to deliver 25,000 wheelchairs worldwide.

The Free Wheelchair Mission, an international non-profit organization dedicated to providing the transforming gift of mobility to the physically disabled poor in developing countries, along with media partner Reader’s Digest magazine, through its website www.rd.com, will chronicle William’s run, scheduled to start on his 50th birthday, Aug. 5, 2006, from Central Park’s Strawberry Field in New York City; and ending 60 days later in Newport Beach, California.

“We are excited to partner with Reader’s Digest for this inspirational campaign,” said Don Schoendorfer, president and founder of Free Wheelchair Mission. “Recently a Reader’s Digest article featuring Free Wheelchair Mission appeared in the July 2005 edition of the publication’s ‘Everyday Heroes’ section and is credited with generating more than $215,000.00 in donations to support our cause.”

To date Free Wheelchair Mission has given over 131,000 wheelchairs free to over 55 developing countries throughout the world. The association estimates that over 100 million individuals are still in need of a wheelchair, worldwide.

Titled, Imagine: A Run Across America, Hibbard will run 52.5 miles a day, the equivalent of two marathons, in hopes of raising awareness of the plight of the developing world’s 100 million disabled who must crawl, be carried or lay immobile in a bed.

“The idea came to me while marathon training and thinking about John Lennon, “ said William Hibbard, a long-time John Lennon fan. “I realized how Lennon’s song Imagine took a simple idea and inspired millions of people.”

Hibbard, who will be occasionally joined by his white Afghan hound, Reese, during his run, believes that his mission to run across the U.S. will inspire others to help with Free Wheelchair Mission’s cause and provide dignity and mobility for the tens of millions of the world’s disabled.

“The one thing God gave me is a pair of sturdy legs that can run well, and if I can run and help get people wheelchairs that so desperately need them; then I’ve done my small part,” Said Hibbard.

Hibbard’s scheduled route takes him through Pittsburgh, Pa.; Cincinnati, Ohio; St. Louis, Mo.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Amarillo, Texas; Phoenix, Ariz.; Oceanside, Calif.; and Newport Beach, Calif.

For more information on Free Wheelchair Mission, or to donate funds for this worthy cause, please log on to www.freewheelchairmission.org or call 800-733-0858.

About Free Wheelchair Mission
Free Wheelchair Mission, the Orange County, Calif. based non-profit organization, is committed to providing the transforming gift of mobility to the physically disabled poor in developing countries. Free Wheelchair Mission creatively partners with like-minded international humanitarian and indigenous organizations with a goal to supply wheelchairs to those in need. Started in 2001, the group has distributed more than 131,000 wheelchairs worldwide, including shipments to Iraq.

The Route

New York - Central Park out through Central Park West and up to the George Washington Bridge.

New Jersey – George Washington Bridge down Route 19 through Newark – then south through Linden to New Brunswick to Route 1 – to Trenton.

Pennsylvania – Route 1 through Philadelphia to Upper Darby to route 3 to Route 30 to Route 372 to Route 74 to York – to Route 30 to Gettysburg to Chambersburg to Route 281 to Sommerset to Route 31 to Donora to Washington (just south of Pittsburgh) to Route 40.

West Virginia – Route 40 through Wheeling to Ohio.

Ohio – Toute 40 to St. Clairsville to Route 9 to Route 149 to Route 147 to Route 265 to Cambridge to Route 22/40 to Route 40 through Zanesville to Columbus to Springfield and above Dayton.

Indiana – Continue Route 40 through Indianapolis – south on Route 40 to Terre Haute into Illinois.

Illinois – Continue Route 40 through to St. Louis, MO.

Missouri – St. Louis through Route 100 to Route 28 to Route 42 to Lake Ozark – south to Route 73 to Springfield to Route 60 into Oklahoma

Oklahoma – Route 60 to Route 66 through Tulsa to Oklahoma City and the Halfway Home Celebration Event – rough estimate for Labor Day weekend September 2, 3 or 4th.

Texas – Continue Route 66 (parallels Route 40 through Amarillo) into New Mexico.

New Mexico – Route 66 to Tucumcari to Santa Rosa – south on Route 54 to Route 60 to Socorro – continue on Route 60 out of New Mexico.

Arizona – Route 60 to Show Low – south to Globe – through Phoenix and on to Blythe, California.

California – Take Route 78 in Blythe and travel through California to Brawley to Julian to Escondido to Carlsbad on the coast – to Oceanside - on to San Clemente to Dana Point to Laguna Beach to Newport Beach and the Balboa Bay Club.

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