Leavitt on humanitarian trip

Gov. Mike Leavitt leaves Utah today for an international humanitarian trip that features stops in Istanbul, Cairo and Moscow.

The trip was organized by the Wheelchair Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed three years ago by philanthropist Kenneth E. Behring, who committed to spend $15 million by the year 2005 to deliver 1 million wheelchairs worldwide.

It is also a cooperative effort with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has partnered with the foundation to help facilitate the deliveries.

Leavitt's role in the project stems from his friendship with the mayor of the Russian capital, Yuri Luzhkov.

Although the foundation has tried to make deliveries to Russia before, it lacked the proper contacts and was also discouraged by a prohibitively high duty tax that would have been assessed on the chairs, Leavitt said.

After his wife, Jacalyn, had participated in a similar trip earlier this year, the governor got in touch with Luzhkov, who smoothed the way so the delivery of 1,000 chairs could be made duty-free.

The Leavitts are also friends of Behring, who came to Utah to stay with them recently.

"He is a remarkable guy who is doing an amazing thing. It is very rewarding to be part of it," the governor said.

The effort's first stop will be Istanbul, and from there, the foundation will head to Cairo. For the governor, the final leg will be in Moscow, where he is scheduled to arrive July 16.

The gift of 1,000 wheelchairs to Moscow recipients coincides with the Moscow-Utah Youth Summer Games, which will continue through July 28.

That is the official reason for Leavitt's presence in the country, where he will be accompanied by 300 high-school age Utahns known as Team Utah. The entire contingent includes 500 people, including parents and coaches.

Leavitt said several of the athletes will physically help recipients into the chairs, an experience he anticipates will be heartfelt.

The athletes are part of an exchange program between Russia and Utah. This year, Utahns travel there for the "summer" competition in events like baseball, volleyball and wrestling. In February, the Russian athletes will come to Utah for the winter version of the games. The "exchange" represents the first ever joint-games between a Russian city and a U.S. state. (see accompanying story)

Although Leavitt will stay in Moscow for the games, Jacalyn Leavitt will continue on with the foundation, which has scheduled stops in four African countries, including Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The governor is cutting his stay short to return to Utah in time for the Pioneer Days festivities, while the first lady will be in Africa through the end of July.

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E-MAIL: amyjoi@desnews.com