Who we are
Learn more about our history and community outreach.
our history
An archipelago of 700 islands and cays, The Bahamas is blessed to have its population spared from debilitating communicable diseases. However, during the 1950s and ’60s, poliomyelitis (polio) visited these islands, and many children suffered the effects of an outbreak.
In fact, the story of the Physically Challenged Children’s Committee begins with one such child. Four-year-old Whitney Mortimer contracted the disease in 1954, and was so severely impacted that he became crippled in both legs and his spine was deformed. His parents, Stanford and Iris Mortimer were anxious to find the best medical care for their son, which led them to seek medical attention in Miami, Florida; however, the cost of the necessary medical intervention proved expensive.
A social worker at the then Children’s Variety Hospital, Margaret Brown, sympathized with the Mortimers’ determination. Having heard of Sir Etienne Dupuch, then editor of the Tribune newspaper, Ms. Brown wrote to him on the Mortimers’ behalf, seeking his assistance to raise funds to defray the medical expenses. In response to her request, Sir Etienne published an editorial dated July 19, 1954. It read:
This is the story of a painfully crippled little Nassau boy. And, I know you will be keenly interested to read it because every parent in this community will immediately realize that it might be the story of his own precious John or Mary. Instead, it is the story of 4-year-old Whitney Mortimer, whose little twisted, a pain-wrecked body lies patiently in a hospital bed in Miami, waiting for the verdict of readers of this column as to whether he will be given a fighting chance to walk, and laugh, and play with other little children again.
As detailed in the editorial, Sir Etienne, upon receiving the letter from Ms. Brown, in turn, phoned the then Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Norman McPherson McLennan about the boy’s ordeal. Dr. McLennan told Sir Etienne that the boy was hospitalized locally for six months; however, the medical facilities proved inadequate to care for him. Although his condition could be corrected, the doctor noted that it would be “frightfully costly.” According to the hospital chief, Dr. Charles Burbacher, young Whitney required three months of hospitalization at about $1,350 and a brace for about $100 which would need to be changed as he grew.
Thereafter, Sir Etienne opened three bank accounts and pleaded with his readers to make donations to offset the boy’s medical expenses, calling it “The Crippled Child’s Fund.” He wrote:
I need hardly impress upon you the urgency of this case. Pennies, pounds, and dollars will be welcomed. Just remember, when you tuck your youngster away in his warm bed tonight that (this) might be the story of your child that I am telling, and thank God (that) you have the opportunity to give rather than feeling the need the parents of this child is experiencing when they look at their Whitney…
- Financing surgeries for Bahamian children whose parents were unable to afford it by any other means;
- Hosting doctors and other medical specialists twice a year, who have treated over 100 children and adults from throughout these islands;
- Purchasing wheelchairs for those visiting the capital who would otherwise be confined to their hotel rooms, and funding travel expenses for the disabled children’s parents;
- Raising funds to furbish local clinics with equipment, as well as to purchase orthotics and prosthetic appliances.
Today, the Committee, now known as the Physically Challenged Children’s Committee, continue its efforts through the commitment of volunteers and past recipients of its philanthropy.
What we do
The Committee’s work includes:
Financing surgeries
Financing surgeries for Bahamian children whose parents were unable to afford it by any other means;
Hosting doctors
Hosting doctors and other medical specialists twice a year, who have treated over 100 children and adults from throughout these islands;
Purchasing wheelchairs
Purchasing wheelchairs for those visiting the capital who would otherwise be confined to their hotel rooms, and funding travel expenses for the disabled children’s parents;
Raising funds
Raising funds to furbish local clinics with equipment, as well as to purchase orthotics and prosthetic appliances.
Our NUMBERS
join us
Contact us and we will respond shortly.