Recently, through a grant from the Gloria Estefan Foundation (GE), The Lil Abner Foundation was able
to present Mr. Fernando Dibuje, a resident of the City of Sweetwater with a brand-new custom built
100%-aluminum tennis wheelchair. The chair donated to Mr. Dibuje is a special chair tailored to the user, manufactured by the RGK company, and delivered by its Florida distributor.
Fernando was born in Quito, Ecuador and was living a normal life working as a custom agent and playing
recreational soccer, but in 1988 he was in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
A couple of years later he moved to Miami to live near his mother. Since he could no longer play soccer
he decided to try tennis. He says that every day after work he would go to the local park and practice for
hours. He was so competitive that he rose to become the top wheelchair player in his age group in the
USA. Unfortunately, 5 years ago his wheelchair broke and was irreparable and he had no money to buy a
new one.
However, he says he never lost hope and kept scrambling and asking whomever he met for help.
Last year he ask the GE Foundation for a grant and with the help from The Lil Abner Foundation his
dream became a reality.
The GE Foundation found a distributor in West Palm Beach, the ‘How I roll Sports” which is owned by
another wheelchair person (Mr. Jacobo Fhar) that his sole business is distributing and repairing sports
wheelchairs. Several months ago, a custom order for Fernando was placed with manufacturer RGK from
the United Kingdom and his dream became a reality.
Fernando, who is 57 years old, plans to again get back to his tennis competition and is looking for
sponsorships. If you wish to help, please contact the Lil Abner Foundation.
