Ok it is a little late, but we managed to write a small blog about our experience in Morokko, which has been incredible great! We hope that while reading you could share a little our emotions and happines for the great work done there! ENJOY IT!!!
Project Morocco finally started! After two stormy days at sea, the crew of sailing4handicaps arrived safe in Morokko. Together with Christoph Ganter, our orthopedic mechanic, we started to handle our first patients in Marrakech. The smile on their faces is the best reward to all these efforts!
Second day at work in Marrakech: it was a long day but we managed to prepare a lot. Our orthopedic mechanic, Christoph Ganter is a bomb and works without any stop. We are really proud of him and of Nada Tounesi, who is supporting us step by step translating, planning and being simply always there. Thank’s to people like them this project can fly!
Third day: the dirty work can start! We worked all day with gips until we were completely covered with it. The positive copies of the stamps are ready: our Michelangelo-Christoph preparred them as only a great sculptor could do. And now back on board to build up the prosthetics… We are simply looking forward for it!
Day 4: the Day of the truth!!! After years of preparation today we made it! The first containers have been build up on board!!! We worked all day long between the cockpit and the saloon of our Imagine. Our generator FischerPanda allowed us to use all the tools and machines necessary for the work, which demand a lots of energy supply. We are so proud of him! Christoph Ganter gave once again proof of his ability and Wojtek and Elli supported him sewing, cutting, building up parts… It is an incredibile feeling to see all our dreams becoming true! Thank to Rupes, BIW, WIHA, WerkzeugSchmidt, FischerPanda, WagnerPolymertechnik, SommerKompressoren our Lagoon 410 S2 has been transformed into an orthopedic atelier!
Day 5: another long day of work on board is done. 6 containers have been finished!!! We are incredibly happy and looking forward for the next steps!
Day 6: our team works hard and without any break… But now up in bed because tomorrow there will be a big surprise… We are looking forward for it!
Day 7: D-DAY!!!
WHAT A DAY!!! After years of preparation, expectations, work, difficulties finally today we realized our big dream: our first prosthetic, build up on board of Imagine, has been completed and donated. To see a young guy staying on his legs and moving the first steps without support in front of his mum crying has been one of the biggest emotions in our life!!! Thank’s to all of you for the support, to Christoph Ganter for his unique work, to our sponsors and supporters. Maybe it is only one drop in the ocean, but for someone this is the all ocean!
Day 9: a lot of work has been done on board. Almost all the prosthetics are ready… Christoph Ganter and the crew of Imagine are working hard!
Day 11: the crew of Imagine and Christoph Ganter worked hard in the last days but finally we could donate the first prosthetics! We never could imagine how thankful and happy these people could be… The small Khalid experimented for the first time in his life the feeling of having legs…and paied us back with smiles and jokes! This work is amazing!!!!
Day 12: 5 patients more got their prosthetic today and they were unbelivable happy! The highlight of the day? Imad, 7 years old and amputee since 2, got his first prosthetic. He put it on, jump down of the bench and started to walk around and up and down the stairs, letting all of us speachless… What to say? AMAZING!!!
Day 14: the last day! After every patient has got his prosthetic, we train all togheter to learn to walk and work on the muscles. It’s amazing to be all togheter and see how much the patients are supporting each other! We are really proud of our work and of the incredibile ability of Christoph Ganter in building up protesis in every condition!!!
Sailing4handicaps project Morocco successfully concluded! After almost 3 weeks of work between Marrakech and Mohammedia, we are now ready to go on and sail to the Canary Islands where Imagine will get a full check out before crossing the Ocean. Morocco was a great experience: we build up 15 prosthetics for a total of 14 patients, all of them already walking with it… We will bring each of them in our heart and remember their smiles of happiness: this is our biggest victory! A special thank goes to Nada Tounesi for her help on spot and to the great Christoph Ganter who worked day and night with incredibile passion! He is amazing. Thank’s to all our sponsors and supporters who belived in us since the beginning and to all the people who are working at home supporting us. And in the end thank’s to all of you our friends: your daily support, your words and posts have been a great push! And now sails up.. Next stop we are coming!