Local Foundation donates a specialised wheelchair to Keyanah Weitz
FOURWAYS – With the support of corporates, schools and its volunteers, the Sweetheart Foundation provides wheelchairs to those in need.
After years of struggling to acquire a wheelchair that meets her needs, 10-year-old Keyanah Weitz, who was diagnosed with mixed cerebral palsy when she was 14 months old, received her special gift.
Sweetheart Foundation in partnership with DC Coffee Shop Fourways and South African Society of Occupational Health Nursing Practitioners handed over a specialised wheelchair to Keyanah on August 26 in Pineslopes.
Sweetheart Foundation manager Jessica Gordon said, with the support of corporates, schools and its volunteers, her organisation provided wheelchairs to those in need through the ‘tops and tags’ initiative which recycles plastic bottle tops and bread tags in exchange for wheelchairs.
“Our organisation was established in 2013 on Valentine’s Day in order to share love with those in need of specialised wheelchairs. The wheelchair is one of the most commonly used assistive devices for enhancing personal mobility, yet, thousands of South Africans remain bed-ridden, rely on family members to carry them around or turn to unsafe and uncomfortable home-made alternatives. We believe that a wheelchair is a basic human right,” Gordon said.
Keyanah’s grandmother, Charlene Kamineth, said she sent a request to the foundation on behalf of Keyanah to get a specialised wheelchair in February this year. “We are super excited that Keyanah will finally have a wheelchair that will meet her needs,” she said.
“I sent my application and registered on her behalf with the foundation in February this year. Last month, I received a call from Sweetheart Foundation that Keyanah has raised enough funds to get a brand new wheelchair and I couldn’t believe it.”
Kamineth was very grateful to all who contributed to make this dream a reality. “This will make not only her life easier but make things easier for us.”
