Compassion in Action: One PT’s Call to Global Service

For Alison Boles, being a physical therapist has always been about restoring motion. But a radio ad one night in 1999 inspired her to take that mission further than she ever imagined.

After tearing her ACL in high school, Alison became inspired by her physical therapist and the vital role movement played in her recovery. She went on to study physical therapy herself, graduating in 1998 and joining Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, where she’s been ever since.

She was on her way home one night when she stumbled upon a Christian radio station and heard the story of Joni Eareckson Tada—a woman who broke her neck diving into the Chesapeake Bay at 18 and started a global ministry for people with disabilities through her recovery. Alison was moved by Tada’s story of strength and resilience and asked herself: Could I be doing more?

“I just happened to be at the right place at the right time to hear that message,” Alison says. “I went online and started learning more about her work around the world. The more I learned, the more I wanted to be a part of it.”

A year later, Alison was on a plane to Peru with Wheels for the World, a nonprofit started by Tada that distributes wheelchairs and other mobility devices to people around the world. Often in remote villages far away from health care, many of these people spend their lives crawling or being carried, while others are isolated in their homes. For them, a wheelchair is more than mobility—it’s freedom.

“To us, it’s just a wheelchair,” Alison says. “To someone in need, it’s the ability to go to school, go to work, and rejoin their community.”

Physical therapists like Alison are a critical part of these trips, working with recipients to properly fit the wheelchairs to their bodies and demonstrate proper use. As part of her career growth at Saint Luke’s, Alison has pursued training for wheelchair fitting to ensure the people she works with feel safe and confident in their new normal.

Alison came back to the U.S. feeling more energized than ever. She continued to volunteer with Wheels for the World, collecting wheelchairs around her community and preparing them for global distribution. She attended a second trip to Peru and a trip to Cuba before taking a break to raise her two children—but stayed connected to the mission through community outreach and wheelchair collection. She returned to overseas work in 2023 and has been to Peru and the Dominican Republic, with another trip to Cuba slated soon.

Alison’s volunteer work was met with open arms at Saint Luke’s. She applied for and received the system’s Medical Mission grant, which offers funds for staff members interested in pursuing volunteer work related to the medical field. Over the years, she has also received PTO flexibility, wheelchair training, equipment donations, and other support to balance her passion with her day job.

Alison describes the work as hands-on and humbling. Often hosted in local churches, the distribution events bring together teams of physical therapists, occupational therapists, and volunteers to serve more than 250 people over the course of one week. No two trips are the same—Alison and her colleagues navigate new environments, overcome language barriers, and think creatively to provide the best possible experience with limited resources.

“It’s everything I love about being a therapist,” Alison says. “There’s no insurance, no paperwork—you just get to go out there and make a real, immediate difference in someone’s life.”

She recalls the moments that have stuck with her: communities celebrating, families reuniting, and countless tears of joy. It’s in these quiet, powerful moments that the impact of Alison’s work becomes real and pushes her to keep going.

“We’re typically working with people whose disability has cut them off from society,” Alison says. “Being able to seat them in a wheelchair and see their whole outlook on life change is immensely gratifying.”

Alison hopes her story will inspire others to find a charity they’re passionate about.

“You don’t have to be a PT to get involved in something like this,” Alison says. “If you’ve got a heart to serve, there’s an opportunity for you.”