Social media has hundreds rally to help disable boy
Brand new wheelchair donated
A Facebook post, 800 shares and a community rallying together saw the life of five-yearold Cecil Carelse change for the better after an all-terrain wheelchair was delivered to his home yesterday.
Cecil, who has been disabled since birth, could only move by dragging his lower body using his arms.
Overwhelmed with excitement, Cecil could not even eat or drink his morning coffee.
All the young boy could say was “I’m getting my wheelchair today”.
The gift of a wheelchair that guarantees him safety and fewer injuries to his lower body was all thanks to a single Facebook post by Patsy Wagner of the Animal Anti-Cruelty League.
After highlighting the plight of Cecil, scores of donors came forward.
And after a report appeared in The Herald in Port Elizabeth, the family has been inundated with calls from people who want to help .
The all-terrain wheelchair was donated by Splitting Image Taxidermy owner Douglas Cockcroft.
Cecil’s grandmother Rina Potgieter said the family was excited and relieved.
“We are excited; a weight has been lifted off my shoulders because we worried constantly about him,” she said.
“We tried to get him a wheelchair, but we were told that it was R12 000 and that is money that we don’t have.
“We have had a massive response.
“People from all over are phoning now asking to contribute.”
His mother Valdenecia Carelse described the moment as “precious”.
She joked that she was concerned he would not want to eat now that he has a wheelchair as was the case when he had received a skateboard.
“From 8am until 7pm in the evening he would want to be on the skateboard and he could not care less about food,” Carelse said.
Cecil could not wait to climb onto his wheelchair as he immediately abandoned his beloved skateboard upon seeing his red, shiny wheelchair.
About 40 residents, including children, gathered around and cheered and clapped as Cecil sat in his wheelchair.
Cecil took the wheelchair for
‘ People from all over are phoning now to contribute
a spin with the help of his mother and grandmother.
In addition to the wheelchair, there are plans to have a ramp built at their home.
Wagner said the response from the public caught her by surprise.
“I was doing work in the area and when I saw this little boy sliding up and down [and] I thought, ‘ no this child needs help’. potentially block transmission of the parasite from person to person suggests that this compound could contribute to the eradication of malaria‚ a disease that claims the lives of several hundred thousand people every year‚” said Chibale.
The 2015 World Health Organisation World Malaria Report said there were 212 million new cases of malaria in 2015‚ 90% of them in Africa.
Despite the positive impact of medication‚ spraying with insecticides and the use of bed nets‚ about 429 000 people died from malaria in 2015‚ 92% of them in Africa‚ it said.
In 2014‚ MMV048 became the first new anti-malarial medicine to enter human studies in Africa. Preparations are now being made for the second
“After I posted on Facebook everybody just jumped and asked how they could help and everyone has been great,” Wagner said.
Cockcroft, who delivered the wheelchair yesterday, said: “We gave him an all-terrain wheelchair because they last longer.
“As he grows, he will receive another wheelchair,” Cockcroft said.
Cockcroft would not divulge how much the wheelchair cost.
However, he said the wheelchair was more steady than most and could handle any terrain thanks to its mountain bike six threaded tyres.
“The limitations of the wheelchair are based on the limitations of the person using it as well as the people who help that person,” Cockcroft said. phase of the trials.
Medicines for Malaria Venture CEO David Reddy said the compound had enormous potential. “It could revolutionise the treatment of malaria.”