Walking across the country for amputees
FOUR amputees have so far benefitted from Paul Steyn and Mike Minnie’s walk from Pretoria to Cape Town, a fund-raiser initiative for amputees who cannot afford prosthetic limbs.
Amputees themselves, Paul and Mike are walking for the Paul Steyn Foundation, started by Paul in 2012.
‘Through the foundation, my aim is to raise funds to give disadvantaged amputees access to prosthetic limbs, but also to raise awareness of amputees,’ said Paul.
‘I am very happy because, by doing this walk, we have already helped four people with prosthetic limbs, at a cost of about R100 000 per person.
‘We are busy assessing a patient in Durban and have 1 000 people on the foundation’s database awaiting prosthetic limbs, so we are hoping to help many more.’
At the start of the walk, Ossur South Africa sponsored parts for prosthetic legs for 10 amputees.
‘What most people don’t realise is the effect a person’s amputation has on the rest of the family. If it is a breadwinner who loses a limb, they can no longer support their family.’
Paul lost his right leg below the knee in an accident in 2000 at just 13 years of age.
‘At 15 I made my own prosthetic limb, but when I turned 16 someone gave me one.
‘It makes all the difference because when you’re on crutches, you can’t do anything with your hands while you’re walking.
‘Even the simplest of tasks, like carrying a cup of coffee from one place to another, becomes impossible.’
In 2012, the Paul Steyn Foundation was established and it was then that Paul started focusing on giving back.
‘Since then I have given motivational talks to more than 500 000 children across the country, walked
12 500km and the foundation has spent about R600 000 of funds raised on prosthetic limbs for the disadvantaged.
It is our aim to help people nationwide.’
Paul and Mike spent Wednesday in Richards Bay where they were treated to a complimentary massage at Indaba Lodge, and dinner for them and their support driver on Wednesday night.
On Thursday they left for Durban where they will take a few days’ rest apart from a beach walk on Saturday that has been organised by Red Point Church.
Donations to the Paul Steyn Foundation can be made either by SMS’ing ‘walk’ to 38021 or through the foundation’s website, www.paulsteynfoundation. org.za.
Paul has also recently launched a crowd funding page on www.backabuddy. co.za, ‘Onwards to walking a million miles’.