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In November 2009 our Eau
Claire Seymour Lions received a request from
an individual in need of a handicap access
ramp at a mobile home park in Altoona
Wisconsin. Then president, Troy Winrich,
began looking into the logistics of building
a ramp to meet the individual’s need. Lion
Terry McDougall spearheaded the project by
obtaining information about the specific
needs of the individual and possible costs
involved. Since the home was located in the
Altoona area, Terry contacted the Altoona
Wisconsin Lions as a possible co-sponsor of
the project.
The individual was found to
have multiple sclerosis along with a knee
replacement failure making stair climbing
very difficult and potentially will be wheel
chair bound in the near future. The
excessive cost for ramp materials and labor
were well beyond the individuals resources.
Initially it was thought that
Lion members would build the ramp. But after
engineering decisions that the six foot drop
to the driveway, the 30 plus ft ramp and the
number of turns complicating the build, it
was decided to hire a contractor. Through
the expert work of the Center for
Independent Living and especially Eric
Larsen of Twin Pines Construction, a grant
was obtained to offset some of the
construction costs. Material costs were
covered by the Eau Claire-Seymour and
Altoona Lion clubs.
The ramp construction was
completed on July 11, 2011. Nearly two years
of research, design, coordination and
construction produced a spectacular ramp for
the individual in need.
This project demonstrates how
Lion Clubs along with other service
organizations and contractors work together
to help those in need within our
communities.
Contractor
Eric, Carol & Lion Terry
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