THE phrase ‘going the extra mile’ best sums up Chelsea Prep pupil, Tasmin Van Straaten. The Grade 7 pupil is attempting to swim 100 laps around her school’s pool to raise funds for her friend Keith Slabbert on Saturday 1 March at midday.
Almost two years ago, Slabbert suffered a seizure in bed. “I immediately tried to stand up and just remember waking up on the floor not being able to move anything,” he said. X-rays later revealed that he had fractured his C4 cervical disc, which resulted in his paralyses.
His mother Dorothy has been trying to raise R200 000 for Keith to be treated at America’s Project Walk Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Centre. Project Walk provides an improved quality of life for people with disabilities through activity-based recovery, education, research and development.
Tasmin said she found out about Keith’s injury from her mother. “My mother (Melody) works with Keith’s mother and I was really touched by what had happened to the family. I decided to help by doing what I was good at and that’s swimming.
“This could be a life changing experience for Keith and I hope the Durban North community will come out and support this cause,” she said.
“I’m just blown away by what Tasmin’s doing for me. She’s just amazing. I’ll definitely be cheering her on during every lap she does,” Keith said.
The former Oakridge College pupil said at first he did not realise the severity of his injuries and doctors couldn’t say if he would recover. “I kept expecting at every stage of recovery to be able to move more and more. Through physiotherapy however, I began to regain movement in my arms and shoulders,” he explained.
The Slabbert family are trying to raise R200 000 to reach America. So far through various fund-raising events R44 700 has been raised. Keith’s mother Dorothy said though the Project Walk centre cannot guarantee Keith will regain function, she believes the potential is there to improve functionality below the level of injury.
“The programme focuses on using specific exercises that are related to the same movement patterns that occur during human development. Through this we hope to re-establish patterned neural activity within the central nervous system,” she said.
If you would like to be a part of the fundraising initiatives or would like to make a donation to help Keith get to America, contact Dorothy on 083 233 7274.
