Isabella Reyes, a junior Biology major, is working to start a club at Pepperdine highlighting a non-profit organization, Free Wheelchair Mission, to spread awareness about the project and her father’s story.
An estimated 80 million people in the world are in need of a wheelchair, according to Free Wheelchair Mission.
In 1992, Hernan Reyes, Isabella’s father, became one of these 80 million after a car accident left him with C4 paralysis from the neck down, typically requiring a ventilator for life, Isabella said.
“They told him he would never walk again, never breathe on his own again, probably never talk again, never eat on his own again,” Isabella said. “Basically, never be able to do anything ever again, besides, see and understand.”
Hernan did not take his diagnosis as an answer and began his journey to rehabilitation, Isabella said.
“He went behind the doctor’s back and did therapy with the nurse that was on call overnight,” Isabella said. “She would stack books on his chest, and that’s how he learned to breathe.”
Once Hernan was rehabilitated, he decided to pick up art by painting with a paintbrush in his mouth, because it was one of the only things he could do, Isabella said.
This artwork gave Hernan the chance to be an inspirational figure and voice for people who have experienced spinal cord injuries and people who are physically disabled around the world, according to Isabella.
This artwork also gave him the opportunity to give back.
“He donated his paintings to a rehabilitation hospital called the Elks, which is in Boise, Idaho,” Isabella said. “This is where he met George Hage, his occupational therapist, who was an ambassador for the Free Wheelchair Mission.”
In 2004, George Hage, Hernan, and other ambassadors from Free Wheelchair Mission banded together to create Idaho Believes, which is a group that supports Free Wheelchair Mission. They aim to provide one wheelchair for every seat in Albertsons Stadium, Isabella said.
With the artwork that Hernan produced, he would auction off his pieces and all of the proceeds would go back to Free Wheelchair Mission.
Since Isabella was born in 2004, she has been involved in her father’s journey of activism and giving back.
Isabella has now grown up to become a youth ambassador for Free Wheelchair Mission and will be seeking approval to extend this organization to the Pepperdine community in the spring.
Isabella credits her aspirations of going to medical school and working in healthcare to her father and the non-profit organization.
Through fundraising, Isabella has set a goal to raise enough funds to provide 2,026 wheelchairs by her graduation date in May 2026.
These wheelchairs are provided to those in need around the world, Isabella said.
“Every wheelchair that you raise goes to an individual in a third world country. They’ll do trips out to Nicaragua, Ecuador, Uganda…they’ve gone all over,” Isabella said.
Isabella said she is hoping to bring the Free Wheelchair Mission’s annual fundraiser, Move for Mobility, to Pepperdine in the spring.
“Run, walk, hike, roll, swim, jump, bike, or do any other activities of your choice while raising funds to provide wheelchairs for people with disabilities in developing countries,” according to the Free Wheelchair Mission’s description of the fundraiser.
Isabella, a member of the Pepperdine Women’s Track team, wants this to be a fundraiser that everyone can participate in.
“Hopefully other teams will participate, clubs and other organizations, fraternities and sororities… really anyone can participate,” Isabella said.
This fundraiser will take place in the spring, but it is available year-round for donations and participation. The non-profit organization has been able to provide over 1.4 million wheelchairs across 95 countries to date, according to their website.
As Isabella grew up, her father’s resilience and joy has inspired her and her outlook on life, Isabella said.
“He’s always happy,” Isabella said. “How can I not be?”
________________________
Follow the Graphic on X: @PeppGraphic
Contact Jenna Parsio via Twitter (@jennaparsio) or email: jenna.parsio@pepperdine.edu
