Comment From the Daughter of a Recent Project Recipient

"I was just on the phone with my mother. She REALLY LIKES HER NEW STEPS! You should hear the excitement in her voice.
 
If you go out next week, just ask her how she likes them. I think you're in to listen to a song bird.

Again, I can't tell you how much we appreciate the steps and all you guys that designed and installed them."

-M-

EDITOR'S NOTE: M's mother was having trouble using the steps at her house, but she didn't need or want a full ramp. The solution? A set of low-rise-long-tread steps custom built by our volunteers. Instead of the typical 7" or 8" rise per step, these specialized steps have a 3" to 4" rise, and are deep enough to allow an individual to set their walker fully on the step before he or she steps up.

Low-Rise-Long-Tread Steps

On November 4 and 5, 2015, one of our Ramp Up Marathon County volunteer construction crews was hard at work building a set of low-rise-long-tread steps for a woman in the greater Wausau area. These specialized steps are a great solution for people who can walk, but have difficulty raising their foot from step to step on normal 7" rise stairs. Another benefit to low-rise-long-tread steps is that a walker will fit on each step.

Here's a look at the project from start to finish... (Photos courtesy of John Ohnstad.)

Thank You To Our Volunteers and Funders

Ramp Up Marathon County has no paid staff. That's right. We are an organization operated solely by volunteers. These dedicated individuals give of their precious time to write grants, review completed project applications, design ramps and low-rise-long-tread-steps projects, create and manage budgets, build the projects and more. Some are part of the leadership team for the organization, others utilize saws and screw drivers on build sites and a few do both.

But the giving doesn't stop there.

We also have wonderful funders who donate the money needed to purchase materials for our projects. Because of their generosity we are able to help people with very limited finances. We are proud to include among our funders the Aspirus Health Foundation, the B.A. and Esther Greenheck Foundation, Thrivent Financial Solutions and several kind individuals.

And of course we are grateful to Midstate Independent Living Consultants, Inc. for taking us on as a program of their organization. It is good to have a home.

No one of us could get this all done on our own, but by pooling our talents and resources we are able to make our community safer for those in the greatest need.

Thank you all!