The biology and kinesiology students at LeTourneau are working to improve the function of wheelchairs for African children.

It is called the "Wheels Project" and is spearheaded by Associate Professor of Biology Karen Rispin. Since 2010, the team has been working with nonprofit's to provide feedback on wheelchair function from different studies.

Children in those areas are using push wheelchairs which, in most cases, can't handle the African terrain. Senior Austin McClasland, who was in Kenya in 2014 on a "Wheels Project" mission trip, told the Longview News Journal, "There is a trash bin full of trashed wheelchairs because they broke. So that is what we're trying to improve on. They have to be durable."

The research being done by the "Wheels Project" is passed on to Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering Norman Reese, where his team works on design improvements for wheelchairs.

They have designed three tests to simulate a wheelchair falling off curbs, traveling on rough terrain and testing the durability of the wheelchairs.

You can help with these projects and with a trip to Africa in May so these groups can try out their research in a real world environment. Go to letu.edu/wheels to donate.

Watch the video below where students talk about the work they do.

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