First lady Wu Shu-chen (吳淑珍) made use of her popularity yesterday to help raise NT$180,000 (US$5,143) for disabled groups through the sale of two autographed shirts.
The first lady, who has been wheelchair-bound since a politically motivated hit-and-run accident in 1985, helped the charity cause when she took part in a press conference to drum up support for a disabled exposition scheduled for Dec. 1 at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
Wu later donated a piece of calligraphy art work presented to her by the charity groups which was sold for NT$120,000 within minutes.
The first lady said that it was not enough for herself alone to show concern for the disabled, adding that the 23 million people of Taiwan must contribute their efforts.
Wu said that Taiwan's care for the disabled is hardly enough, adding that disabled people are a minority and that it is the responsibility of the majority to show more concern toward them.
She also urged people to treat the disabled with "love and not pity," adding that showing love will make the disabled feel warm, while showing pity will only make them feel as if they are a burden to others.
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