Elderly man receives wheelchair, and new life

Foundation’s recycling initiative funded purchase

FOR more than five years, an 84-year-old Butterworth man suffered from diabetes and last year had to have his right leg amputated as a result – but after being virtually immobile for more than a year, he received his own wheelchair last week.

Teba Dabane, who received the standard wheelchair from The Sweethearts Foundation in East London, said the wheelchair had improved his quality of life.

“I am very happy about receiving my very own wheelchair.

“It was hard to move around before I had a brand new one.

“I can move around with much more ease now, which also makes it easier on my family who had to help me,” Dabane said.

He previously used a borrowed wheelchair which was not in as good a condition.

Dabane received the devastating news that his right leg would have to be amputated above the knee last year.

“It was a hard thing to go through, especially at my age, but now I am happy that I was blessed to receive this wheelchair.

“I can now move and travel around more freely, which makes me so happy,” he said yesterday.

The Sweethearts Foundation started an initiative four years ago – Tops and Tags – to collect bread tags and bottle caps for recycling.

In exchange, the organisation purchases wheelchairs for those in need.

To purchase one standard wheelchair, it would require 450kg bottle caps and 50kg bread tags.

But in Dabane’s case, PnA Stationers East London donated R10 000 towards five wheelchairs for those in need in the Buffalo City Metro area.

The foundation’s marketing director, Ashley Nel, said they would hand over four more wheelchairs during the next four months to those desperately in need.

“PnA East London has been a great partner by donating such a greatly welcomed sum of money to help people in the community.

“The most moving thing you can do is to help someone who can’t help themselves.

“The organisation maintains that a wheelchair is a basic right but there are still so many people who have to go without one.

“It is a rewarding feeling seeing how we are changing people’s lives and this initiative is great in assisting them in that,” Nel said.

Debane was placed on a waiting list to receive his wheelchair, which Nel said anyone in need could apply for.

“Anyone looking for assistance with wheelchairs can apply online at our website www.sweetheartsfoun dation.org and supply all the relevant documents to prove their need,” he said.

Since starting Tops and Tags, The Sweethearts Foundation has donated more than 250 wheelchairs to people in need across the country. —