Grant helps Uzbek children walk

The Massage Therapy Foundation announced that Alisher Sharipov was granted $5,000 for his work with Medical Teams International.

Through this grant, this program (now in its third year) will provide bodywork to Uzbekistan orphans as well as bodywork training to their caregivers.

Ages 4-18 years, these children have a broad range of abnormalities from central nervous system disorders to cerebral palsy. Through the previous grants, practitioners provided bodywork to 320 orphans and reeducated 30 caregivers about the benefits of massage therapy.

After the 2008 and 2009 trips, 80 children who were previously confined to their beds can now walk. Thanks to this grant, two additional massage therapists will travel to the area in 2010 to train local caregivers and empower them to share their techniques with others making this initiative sustainable and available for many more children. This grant is funded in memory of Kathie King.

Your gift today will help Medical Teams International relief efforts around the world!