The third-grade classes at Cherokee Christian Schools are once again working to bring mobility to those in need around the world.

The two classes are gearing up to raise money to purchase wheelchairs while also collecting used chairs and crutches for the Wheels for the World project.

Alicia Goff's and Elaine Cozart's classes are in the planning stages of their project.

For this year, both classes have set a minimum to collect at least $13 from each student, which could raise a total of $300 in each class. Those funds would help purchase at least two chairs.

"The students are really excited this year," Mrs. Goff said.

Wheels for the World was born out of the Joni and Friends International Disability Center, a Christian ministry that seeks to spread the Gospel in the disability community.

Last year's campaign was well received by parents and students, Mrs. Goff said.

The students collected six used wheelchairs, 15 used walkers and 10 used pairs of crutches as well as $1,221.

Ron Regenstreif, member of the international board of directors for Joni and Friends, contributed an additional $1,000 to the school's campaign, Mrs. Goff said.

To show his appreciation for their efforts, Regenstreif delivered a videotaped message to last year's third-graders, Mrs. Goff said.

This year's third-graders are not short on their excitement.

Some of the fundraising ideas students tossed around include planning neighborhood bake sales, doing extra chores around the house, sharing birthday money, selling toys on eBay and placing donation jars at their parents' places of employment.

Joni and Friends was founded in 1979 by Joni Eareckson Tada, who was paralyzed in a 1967 car accident at the age of 17.

As part of Wheels for the World, more than 900 volunteers collect, store and transport used wheelchairs.

The wheelchairs are then shipped to 20 prisons where inmates restore the chairs to "like-new" condition and prepare them for shipment overseas. Teams then travel to various developing countries and distribute the chairs to those in need.

Countries that have been visited include Guatemala, Ghana, Poland, Romania, Cuba, China, Honduras, Ukraine, India, Thailand, Brazil and Peru. Since its creation in 1994, Wheels for the World has collected more than 52,000 wheelchairs.

By the end of 2008, the ministry had distributed 52,342 wheelchairs to 102 countries.

Both teachers said they want their children to realize this project is much bigger than their own world.

Mrs. Cozart said she hopes students realize there "are kids out there who don't have what we have."

Some of the students already have in mind how they want to raise money for the project.

Emma Tindall, 8, daughter of Lee and Miriam Tindall of southwest Cherokee, said she wants to help her mother make her famous rotini and bow-tie pasta dish with marinara sauce to sell at a bake sale.

Emma said she would like to raise at least $20.

"It could help people around the world come to Jesus and enjoy life the way we all do," she said.

Cameron Cochran, 8, son of Todd and Kelly Cochran of Marietta, said he will ask his neighbors if he could help with any yard work.

Cameron also wants to set up a lemonade stand, as he would like to raise more than the minimum to help people less fortunate than him and his friends.

"I want them to get a chance to at least explore the world so they can see what God created,"

For information, e-mail Mrs. Goff at Alicia.goff@cherokeechristian.org or Mrs. Cozart at Elaine.cozart@cherokee christian.org.