Fun run to help disabled people

THE Daily Dispatch Summer Fun Run, in partnership with Spar, is on this Sunday from the Orient Pools in East London.

The fun run has been divided into two categories – 5km and the 8km.

Entry for the 5km is R60 for adults and R40 for kids under the age of 16. Entry for the 8km for adults is R70 and R50 for kids under the age of 16.

The popular race will see R10 from each entry going towards the Association for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disability (REHAB).

REHAB is an organisation devoted to the physical, psychological and social wellbeing of persons living with a disability.

The organisation, located in Southernwood in East London, is dependent on donations, project funding, sponsorships, and government subsidies to carry out their services.

The organisation’s acting director, Rueben Puchert, said their services were not just focused on rehabilitating persons with disability to be active and independent citizens, but it also actively strives towards rehabilitating society and the environment to promote inclusivity of persons living with disability.

“At REHAB, we believe in developing each individual’s potential, whilst learning from others on possible best practices as we strive towards independence,” he said.

Puchert said the assistance from the Daily Dispatch would go a long way.

“We have one major project that we have currently going. Two of our staff members are training to become orientation and mobility practitioners. The training costs R100 000 a year for the two people and we got it through a subsidy,” he said.

Puchert said an orientation and mobility practitioner teaches a blind person how to walk with a white cane and also teaches them skills for basic living.

“Currently in the province we have only one trained practitioner. Even though this training is hard on us financially, we need it,” he said.

For more details, contact Sharonne Dewing on 043-702-2089. — DDR