New wheelchair a chance for freedom
INDOKUHLE Mtshayeni, a pupil from Parklands Special School, received a much-needed specialised wheelchair yesterday morning at the eighth PnA wheelchair handover.
Indokuhle, who will be turning 18 on Youth Day, has cerebral palsy, a disorder that has affected her since birth, which limits her ability to control her movements.
“She is unable to control some of her movements and unable to walk, but there is a lot that she can do. She is a warm, friendly child and, although she struggles with her body, she is very persistent and tries her best with every task we give her,” said Parklands Special School physiotherapist Kerrin Raats.
Indokuhle is full of life and loves going out to the mall. Her previous wheelchair made this task, and many others, extremely difficult.
“I really battled to take her out before because her wheelchair at home was too big. I always had to pay more for it to fit in the taxi, and sometimes there just wasn’t enough space,” said Indokuhle’s mother, Nondumiso Mtshayeni.
“This wheelchair has made my daughter so happy. I am so grateful to PnA for this gift.”
The specialised wheelchair is smaller and can be folded up, which will make travelling much easier for the family. The wheelchair is also equipped with special wheels that allow it to go on various terrains.
This handover forms part of PnA Stationers owners, Darryl and Gussie Eberhardt’s pledge to sponsor one wheelchair every month to someone in need in East London.
The monthly sponsorship was kicked off when PnA joined forces with a national NPO, the Sweethearts Foundation.
Through the collection and recycling of bread tags and plastic bottle tops, the NPO buys wheelchairs for people in need across the country, with the red bins outside PnA’s shop in Old Transkei Road being the official drop-off point for bread tags and bottle tops in East London.
“By the end of the year we hope to have crossed off many of the local individuals on the sweethearts foundation’s waiting list and ensure that each of them receive the wheelchairs that they need,” said PnA marketer Heinrich Fuls.
Gussie Eberhardt said that, going forward, they would like to focus on getting more specialised wheelchairs to children in need. —