Jim Tofflemire talks May 23, 2007, about the red wagons he is building for Shriner’s Hospitals on the West Coast, including the one in Portland. Young patients can leave their hospital beds and ride around the halls in the wagon, helping in their healing process. World Photo by Lou Sennick

For years, Jim Tofflemire rode around the Bay Area in a bright red North Bend Fire engine as a career firefighter for that department. Now, the North Bend resident is involved in a project that will provide red-colored vehicles to children in hospitals all across the country.

Tofflemire witnessed firsthand the value a simple wagon can have on bed-ridden child when his son, Phillip, was a patient at the Shriner's Hospital in Portland.

“He was in a spica cast, going from his chest to his feet, after recovering from hip surgery,” Tofflemire said. “We put together a wagon for him so during the summer he could get out to the garden.

“It helps in the healing process. It makes their stay in the hospital a little happier. When kids can be kids, they heal faster.”

Shriner's in Portland was the first beneficiary of Tofflemire's generosity. The facility received a wagon in the late 1980s. He later built a second one to replace the original after he returned to the hospital to find it in disrepair.

About five years ago, he got the idea of building wagons for every other Shriner's hospitals in the country. But the concept never got beyond the planning stages. Then, in April 2005, Phillip died as a result of complications from cerebral palsy. He was 23. Tofflemire said he made the decision at that point to go ahead with the project.

Initially, he thought it would take him about four years to complete the endeavor. But after speaking with members of his family and some friends, the project got off to a great start.

Ultimately, the goal is to send two wagons to each of the 22 Shriner's hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Already, 12 wagons have been constructed and are ready to make their way to Sacramento, Calif.; Los Angeles; Salt Lake City; Honolulu; and Spokane, Wash.

Having built several models in the past, Tofflemire has refined the design to include a pole that can accommodate an IV drip and rub rails to limit damage on the body of the wagon. The hand holds on the sides and back were inspired by a chance incident.

“I remember seeing two little girls riding in a wagon and then a girl in a wheelchair came racing behind and grabbed hold of the wagon to catch a ride,” he said. “I thought, ‘That would be a great idea to incorporate into the design.'”

There are two sizes that the wagons come in. Both have a depth of about 9 inches; the smaller one has dimensions of 16 inches by 36 inches and the large is about 25-by-47. Both are intended only for children, though Tofflemire said he has seen others put the vehicles to use.

“It's not uncommon to see nurses ride in the wagon,” he said with a chuckle.

In order to complete all 44 wagons, Tofflemire said he needs to raise $12,000. Already, he has raised about $6,000, with support from the Coos Bay area as well as afar afield as Arizona and North Carolina.

“It's like dropping a pebble in a pond, with help radiating out from here,” he said.

The 12 wagons ready for shipment were on display Wednesday at the Black Market Gourmet. Before leaving, Tofflemire looked one last time at the wagons.

“I feel so good about this project when I think of how many thousands of children it will touch during the lifetime of the wagon,” he said. “When you go back to the hospital and see wagons will lots of nicks and dings, you know it's getting good use.”

To make a donation to the Shriner's Hospital Wagon Project, those interested can send checks to Shriner's Hospital for Children-Portland, in care of Mandy Kruger, 3101 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239-3009. Checks can be made payable to Shriner's Hospital Wagon Project.