Global Activism: His Wheels International sends bicycle parts to the disabled overseas

Picture of a trike recipient in 2012 at Soddo Christian Hospital in Ethiopia. (Courtesy of Soddo Christian Hospital/Ethiopia Staff-His Wheels International)

Alice Teisan, a former nurse at Rush Hospital, was an avid cyclist before she was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in 1992. Despite her major health setback, she channeled her passion for bicycling into helping others suffering from disabilities globally.

In 2005, she created His Wheels International out of her own home, which recycles old bicycles to send overseas.

Teisan’s book Riding on Faith: Keeping Your Balance When the Wheels Fall Off is available on Amazon in paperback and in Kindle format. She will offer the Kindle download for free until February 2 as a gift to WBEZ listeners.

Alice Teisan, founder of His Wheels International and author of 'Riding on Faith: Keeping Your Balance When the Wheels Fall Off'. (Courtesy of His Wheels International)

Initially, she had small goals.

"My initial goal back in 2003 was to give away 100 bikes in my lifetime. In 2005 after being challenged by my mentor, then 90, I founded His Wheels International. Since then His her group has distributed 1,600 bikes and hand-pedaled trikes to people affiliated with 88 countries. We have prototyped 22 different trike prototypes. Our trikes have been assembled, fabricated and manufactured on five continents."