Donald Willcox; Foundation volunteer President, Coordinator & Founder

Don Willcox has been permanently living in Thailand since 1990. He is an American citizen who spent major parts of his childhood living in Minnesota and Thunder Bay Canada.  Before moving to Thailand he founded and directed an educational sponsorship program for orphans and poor children in Nepal.  Before that, Don was the author of more than 30 craft, design, poetry, and children's books published in the USA, Scandinavia, England, and The Netherlands.  He is the recipient of Thailand's "Volunteer Of The Year" award, a recipient of a National Endowment For The Arts award in America, and his book on Finnish Design won the Finnish National Book Award.  Today, Don does what he does as a personal expression of gratitude for having lived a healthy, productive, and long life.

Piranan Singjai; Foundation Vice President, Manager & Founder ‘Baan Piranan’

Piranan Singjai is the tireless, devoted, compassionate and visually impaired hands-on Manager of both the Foundation's Cerebral Palsy Children's Home Care facility and our local area community outreach therapy and health program.  Formerly, Piranan was a nursing assistant at the Bangkok/Phuket Hospital.  A road accident (which left her totally blind for 7 months) abruptly and unexpectedly changed her life.  Piranan has been caring for others since she was in her early teens and first assumed financial responsibility for 2 Karen minority children.  Her disability and personal health challenges have given her a mature no-nonsense overview in managing the Foundation's disability affairs.

Sukanya Khamraphit; Outreach Physiotherapist

Sukanya is one of the Foundation’s most valued staff members working long hours under all conditions where each week she visits over 50 area disabled families and provides ongoing physiotherapy, individual and personal hygiene, and  supportive companionship. She has worked with the Foundation for going on two years, driving her old Honda motorbike through pouring rain and mud to reach those who now rely upon, and look forward to the important contact she provides. A smile very rarely leaves her face, and her never say no attitude compliments the high quality of service she provides. She is truly a fantastic asset to the organization.

Ai Singjai; (New) Freedom Wheelchair Workshop Manager

Somguen better known to everyone as “Ei” (brother) has been helping the Foundation for the past 5 months supervising the building of our new kitchen and laundry facilities. He is tireless and seems to have nearly endless energy reserves.  Although a skilled builder already in his 40’s, he is expanding his perspectives to become our workshop Manager by investing his energy to learn new skills including welding, driving, and English. 
Somguen was raised in a small rural village near Li, Thailand (south of Lamphun).  He is married and has two sons.  His oldest son “Ton” is currently an engineering student at Chiang Mai University.  His younger son “Toey” is still attending elementary school.

Chanchai Wattanawirot; Freedom Wheelchair Workshop Staff

Despite his small size, Chanchai (Chan) would best be described as the ‘strong silent’ type. Never one to moan or even speak too much, he truly loves his work at the Foundation, and is a real work horse. Who when he’s not building a wheelchair, can be always be found making himself busy elsewhere. Also disabled, he does not let this affect his work rate, with his no nonsense, nose to the grindstone attitude. He prides himself on being the quickest staff member at assembling Free Wheelchair Mission chairs, and is our staff expert at remembering where we put things!

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