Rotary E-Club of East Rand donates new wheelchair to Daveyton resident
"As a club, we are honoured to give Tshepo the mobility he needs to continue living his life to the fullest."
A 24-year-old Daveyton resident, Tshepo Dlamini, who pleaded for a wheelchair donation in February, has received a wheelchair from the Rotary E-Club of East Rand on May 14.
President Geoff Havenga and Heather Smithard of the Rotary E-Club of East Rand arranged the wheelchair handover at Dlamini’s home.
Dlamini expressed his excitement about getting the new wheels.
“I’m happy that the Rotary E-Club donated these new wheels for me. It fits me and it’s comfortable.
“The new wheelchair is special to me and I appreciate it. After pleading to the community, I’m glad that the Rotary Club fulfilled my wish and I hope that they continue to put a smile on other people who need wheelchair donations,” said Dlamini.
“As a club, we are honoured to give Tshepo the mobility he needs to continue living his life to the fullest. We wish him all the very best for the future,” said Havenga.
“Should the need arise that someone else needs a wheelchair, we are willing to assist provided there are wheelchairs available.
“Helping other people gain mobility and seeing the joy in their faces is the only thanks we need to know we are making a lasting difference to the people in our community,” added Havenga.
The wheelchair project is one of the most successful and long-running initiatives.
It began in 1993 and is still going strong. The original idea took hold after members realised that there was an urgent need for wheelchairs in the Johannesburg area.
The call for wheelchairs was sent out and Rushmoor Rotary in the United Kingdom took up the project.
Wheelchairs were collected from agencies such as the Red Cross and national health hospitals, which had been storing old wheelchairs in depots across southern England.
The first consignment of 56 wheelchairs arrived, courtesy of Swiss Air. Thereafter, wheelchairs were dispatched by sea.
Havenga said that the collaboration, which allowed the Rotary E-Club of East Rand to source the wheelchair, is directly from the Northcliff Rotary Club.
“The success of many Rotary projects is the collaboration between Rotary clubs within the districts and worldwide,” said Havenga.
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