Issaquah residents to receive free access ramps

Two disabled Issaquah residents will receive free wheelchair access ramps next week as part of the Master Builders Care Foundation’s 15th annual “Rampathon” event. “It’s a really magical moment when they get to go down the ramp for the first time,” said Krista Koster of DeLaunay Communications, on behalf of the foundation. Since 1993, volunteers with the foundation have designed and built 230 free ramps for low income, disabled homeowners in King and Snohomish counties. In addition to the Issaquah residents, an estimated 36 homeowners in Burien, Snohomish, Enumclaw, Redmond, Kent, Mill Creek, Seatac, Seattle, Auburn, Shoreline, Monroe, Brier, Everett, Kirkland and elsewhere will receive ramps this year. In each case, the foundation assigns a “ramp captain,” who recruits volunteers, secures donated materials and customizes ramp blueprints to fit the individual locations. Paul Beck of DR Horton Inc — which has been involved for the past five years or so — will head up one of the Issaquah projects. About 12 people from DR Horton are signed up to help build the ramp next weekend. “I think each person has different reasons for participating,” Beck said. “I think compassion’s a ministry that everyone needs to participate in.” Society today is so busy, rushing from one thing to the next that priorities sometimes get misplaced, he said. “We sometimes lose sight of what’s important, such as relationships with other people. I’m motivated by my faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Beck said. When he went to meet with the homeowners his team will be helping, the wife said that her husband was in a care center and would need the ramp when he came back to their house. “They really needed to know that something was going to happen,” Beck said. The Master Builders Care Foundation is a philanthropic arm of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish counties. “The best part is when you bring (the recipient) to the end of the ramp with everyone all around, give them the medallion and take the group photo,” said Jon Elkins, co-chair of the Rampathon event. “That’s about the time everyone starts to cry.” Wendy Giroux can be reached at wgiroux@reporternewspapers.com or 391-0363, ext. 5050.

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