Join the #EmpowerAyanda drive to help a disabled woman help others

A concerned resident noticed a woman in a wheelchair travelling down Thornton Avenue in Westdene and was instantly curious to find out more about her and so decided to stop his car and approach her.

Billy Kerker said on 16 March he noticed Ayanda Koetle travelling down the bicycle lane.

He described how he immediately had all these thoughts about how fortunate he was to be able to walk, if anyone else cared about her, and how he could offer his help to her.

“I pulled over and, as she was approaching me, I decided to take some pictures because immediately my mind was in gear about how I was going to help her. I knew I would need some footage and photographs,” said Kerker.

“We then met and I discovered she’s an incredible woman and thought [that if she is such] an inspiration is to me, can you imagine the inspiration she could be to a number of people.”

The resident added that he has been involved in other outreach projects; and his current aim is to receive support from the community and organisations to assist Koetle through #EmpowerAyanda.

“When Billy approached me I told him I had a car accident after a car bumped me when I was seven years old which left me paralysed from the chest down.

“I explained to him what I need after he asked me. I told him I need a car to be able to move around to places such as job interviews, and I also need a caregiver to help me on a daily basis, and also legal advice to get me out of curatorship so I can make my own decisions,” explained Koetle.

She asked readers not to turn a blind eye when they see someone struggling, and rather ask them if they need some help.

Kerker also encouraged people to open their hearts to this special woman to make her life easier through empowering her so she can use hope to inspire other people in similar situations.

Details: Billy Kerker 071 623 6211; alesair1za@gmail.com