Chaeili saddles up in cerebral palsy trial

IN A WORLD that celebrates success, it can be easy for differently abled people to feel disempowered and not belong.

But for ability activist Michaela “Chaeli” Mycroft, changing society’s views on the capabilities and role of disabled children in South Africa and around the world is what drives her.

Born with cerebral palsy and a degenerative neuropathy, Mycroft, 23, is the first female quadriplegic to summit Mt Kilimanjaro, and first wheelchair athlete to finish the Comrades Marathon.

And she’s pushing the boundaries again – for five days from tomorrow, she will be taking on yet another gruelling challenge – a 75km endurance on horseback through Meerendal Wine Estate, in Durbanville, outside Cape Town.

Mycroft is also challenging sceptics who have doubted her previous feats in the #Betchaelicant challenge, to change their view while creating awareness about the abilities of disabled people as well as inclusion in society.

“It’s about changing perceptions. We all have challenges but it matters what we do about them. This particular campaign is a call to action – asking people to get involved in helping provide opportunities that disabled children would not be able to access, like education, and to provide them with life skills,” she said.

After her last practice session on Thursday, she felt ready and well prepared.

“I’ve been practising since November and I feel good. Although I have a team that’s been helping me and will be with me during the challenge, I will be the only one on the horse.

“I’ve done Kilimanjaro and the Comrades and now this horseback challenge, which is unique. I’ve not done horse riding in years. It requires endurance – for the five hours,” Mycroft said.

To understand the magnitude and significance of the horse challenge, one needs to understand Mycroft’s physical impairments.

Cerebral palsy affects movements in different parts of the body, with varying degrees of severity. Sufferers struggle with motor control and have difficulty with posture, balance and movement.

“At first, Chaeli would not sit straight up on the horse when she started the practice sessions. The last time she went horse riding was when she was 11 years old. But she’s now sitting comfortably. Her body is stronger, and her mind as well,” said her mother, Zelda Mycroft, chief executive of the Chaeli Campaign, who will also be with her daughter during the challenge.

“What is remarkable about the challenge is that Chaeli is taking doubts of others, proving them wrong and turning them into a positive message.”

According to physical therapist and professional animal wrangler Sarah Manning, riding a horse pushes Mycroft to the limits of her endurance.

“Chaeli is going to need to work tenfold, more than your average, able-bodied person. Her body has to continuously work against its own muscle tension and against gravity to stay upright.

“Now, add to that a horse – a moving, unpredictable creature – and the difficulty is compounded. This challenge will be immense for her.”

But Mycroft’s mind will be focused on what she wants to achieve for the Chaeli Cottage Pre-school – an inclusive early childhood development centre for disabled children.

In South Africa, it is difficult for children with disabilities to gain access to the resources required to live a full life and to secure effective inclusion.

Mycroft was told she could not access mainstream education at the age of 3, but with the support of her parents and others she managed to go though various institutions and will now be starting her PHD studies in human rights law at UCT.

And she has called on South Africans to support others like herself to access education to live full lives.

“We want your bets. People can access us on social media platforms,” she urged.

Her mother said she and the team were looking forward to the challenge.

“Chaeli will be broken every day, her capabilities will be challenges – it’s something she will have to live with and through. But she is ready and so is Smokey, a rescue horse.

“We will see how they both manage next week”.

Funds raised through the #Betchaelicant challenge will support the pre-school.

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