ALLAN Pretorius, together with his mother Shirley, popular figures near Windermere Centre where they sell dog blankets were left devastated last Monday after somebody stole Allan’s donated electric wheelchair.
Shirley said she had returned to her Morningside flat from a day at the stall and continued with her normal routine. “The electric wheelchair is over 100 kilograms and takes two grown men to carry it. There isn’t enough room for both the chairs in the passage so I take Allan up to the flat and settle him in before I come down to lock the electric wheelchair in the storeroom. When I went down I was shocked to find it gone and then thought maybe some kids were playing with it in the flat,” she said.
After walking around the block a few times without luck, she had to break the news to Allan.
Born with cerebral palsy, Shirley said Allan is physically challenged and cannot speak but has his faculties about him. “He just wailed when I told him. People like Allan have so little control over their lifestyle so the chair really gave him a sense of independence. He has lost his freedom and is now stuck to one spot until someone is kind enough to push him.”
Shirley said although she does not condone thieving , she forgives the thieves. “They are forgiven but they need to make an honest living other than stealing because the theft doesn’t just affect Allan, but those around him, including the people that worked hard to raise money for the chair,” she said.
Allan, who loves shopping enjoyed cruising through Windermere Centre, visited his friends at the pre-school across the road from his stall daily on their lunch break and enjoyed “runs” in his electric wheelchair on the beach with his best friend, Steve van der Meer. Now he can not do many of his activities unless someone pushes him.
Life is tough for Shirley who now has to push Allan and pull her trolley full of blankets daily to the stall from their home, but it doesn’t get her down. “I walk with an awesome God, He’s the one with the strength. I’m quite weak,” she said with a determined smile.
