Group aims to break wheelchair record
Smashing a world record will be the perfect way to celebrate International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
And on December 3 The Cube and the Youth Engagement Group will attempt to do j ust that when they attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous line of moving wheelchairs.
The Cube is an organisation that works with the Yes Disability Resource Centre in Albany to support young people with disabilities.
This will not be the first time they have attempted to break the world record, but this year they are confident they can beat it.
Youth Engagement Group chairman Josh Fuimaono says the team chose this particular record because it is achievable.
‘‘We want to show what people with disabilities can offer their communities, families and workplaces,’’ he says.
‘‘It’s about demonstrating that people with disabilities are motivated and have something to give others.’’
Local home care equipment brand Invacare are supplying 150 wheelchairs for the day which will go a long way toward breaking the current record of 192 previously set by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation in Los Angeles.
Joining the record attempt are New Zealand’s two oldest wheelchairs, dating back to the 1800s.
The Cube will also use the event as an opportunity to help others, encouraging people to bring a can of food to donate to the Auckland City Mission for its reserves.
Following the record attempt, The Cube will celebrate with food, music and entertainment. All activities on the day are free and available for people of all ages and abilities.
The record attempt will begin at noon with festivities starting at 11am. The period people can object to their 2014 rating valuations has been extended. Property owners now have until 5pm on December 23. Auckland Council’s acting chief financial officer Kevin Ramsay says website issues have meant some people had difficulty accessing new values online. This year’s property revaluation showed an average residential capital value increase of 34.8 per cent since 2011. By now most property owners should have received their new values in the mail. Valuations, which are completed every three years, will be used to help determine rates for each property for the year beginning July 1 next year. Call 0508 000 021 for help. The Christmas Tree of Bikes is ready to light up the city. Visit Queen’s Wharf tonight from 8pm for the tree’s official lighting ceremony. The tree is a ChildFund creation adorned with real bikes donated by the Auckland community. Visit childfund.org.nz for more information. Age Concern Rodney’s annual Christmas concert is at the Centrestage Theatre this Monday. The day includes entertainment from musicians and performing arts groups such as the Orewa College Kapa Haka group. Age Concern Rodney has been given $2000 from the Mazda Foundation to put towards the annual Christmas concert. On December 5 the East Coast Folk Club is celebrating with a Club Singers’ Special night and a Christmas party. It’s at the Torbay Senior Citizens Social Centre, 37 Watea Rd, from 8pm. Bring a plate. General admission $5, college students and performers $3. Contact Bob Uhe on 09 426 3588 and r.uhe@xtra.co.nz for information.