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For the first 12 years of her life she wore a leg brace and a heavy lift. Some kids made fun of her, while others helped her.

"I had ankle surgery on what was painful. I had surgery when I was 10 months from having a turned-in ankle. The surgery stunted the growth of my leg because one was shorter than the other. My ankle is fused," Zemmer said. "I hated the lifts. There was a chunk of rubber on my shoe.

She discovered the Shriners who provided a means to make her life more comfortable.

Now a veterinarian technician for the Animal Center in Lapeer, these days Emily walks with a slight limp. She also felt having leg problems made her a more compassionate woman.

"Now I'm pretty good. I get sore from standing on my feet all day," she said and added her boyfriend, Eric, also thinks the Shriners are a pretty amazing group of guys.

Her mother, Cindy Zemmer, said her daughter has had to endure many leg operations including a few the Shriners provided funding for.

"When she was born her ankle wasn't formed right. The brace didn't slow her down. She was riding horses, running around, and in baton contests," Cindy said. "Doctors corrected it and lengthened it. We found out about the Shriners when she was 12 or 13 and I thought it was great. The Shriners are wonderful people. I would recommend them to anyone."

Cindy explained how wonderful it was the Shriners paid for the few surgeries, including transportation, lodging, and meals for her daughter.

The Lapeer Area Shriners are looking for a few children to help at a free mini clinic they will conduct noon to 3 p.m. June 28.

The clinic will be held at the Lapeer Masonic Temple, 1685 Saginaw (at the corner of Saginaw and Davis Lake Road).

John Westendorf, Mason past master, ambassador and Shriner hospital committee, and Zemmer's uncle, said his organization is looking for children with the following orthopedic ailments: Scoliosis, brittle bone disease, cerebral palsy, rheumatoid arthritis, rickets, spina bifida, limb deficiencies, bone problems, club feet, dislocated hips, missing limbs, cleft palates, dwarfism, and burn injuries. No insurance or U.S. government funds are used for any medical care provided by Shriners hospitals.

Children with such ailments may be eligible for health care up to their 18th birthday through the Shriners, Westendorf said. Parents are asked to bring their children to the clinic for referrals for free surgery at a Shriner's hospital. Parents are also asked to bring copies of the child's birth certificate, immunization records, Social Security number, any divorce decree, custody, or adoption papers.

"Michigan's hospital is in Chicago and the burn center is in Cincinnati," he said. "We have jet aircraft to provide transportation."

A Mason for almost 50 years, Westondorf said it gives him great satisfaction to help so many children. "It gives meaning to my life. It's very rewarding. I feel I'm doing something for someone else," he said. "We see children who need help and it's the reason for the mini clinic."

Funding for Shriners to cover the cost of such healthcare, Westendorf said, comes from newspaper sales, onion sales, car shows, and a corn maze in Clio.

For more information, call Westendorf at (810) 664-1946 or Frank Green at (810) 664-5320.

The Shriners operate more than 20 hospitals across the country known as "the world's greatest philanthropy." For more information call 1(800) 237-5055. Applications may be downloaded at www.shrinershq.org. Since 1922 Shriners have significantly improved the quality of life more than 500,000 children with orthopedic problems and burn injuries.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com.