Dundee to Vryheid cycle ride to give a young boy freedom of movement
Vryheid is obviously a community that stands together for the good of their own...
Eighty cyclists and 15 runners hit the long road to Vryheid early this morning to raise money to help pay for a wheelchair for a disabled 11-year-old.
The athletes, all from Vryheid, gathered at Dundee Wimpy from around 5am. The runners went off first while the cyclists followed at 6.30am.
The first cyclist is expected to be at the Vryheid Wimpy by 9.30am. Vryheid gym owner, Vicky Delport, who is himself in a wheelchair following a rugby injury in 1991, was touched by the plight of Leo Small.
Vicky was at a school rugby match in Vryheid when he saw Leo’s mother carrying him around. ‘I know that the freedom that comes with an electric wheelchair is priceless,” he said.
These chairs to do not come cheap. He found a secondhand one for around R25 000 and even after the seller brought the price down to R14 000, Vicky knew he had to act fast if he was going to acquire the wheelchair.
He and his wife, Ronel, decided to use their own money to buy the chair for Leo. Vicky recalls the absolute delight etched on Leo’s face when he received his new electric wheelchair, His parents, Jan and Lisa, are also overwhelmed even though they have never complained about their situation and the soaring medical costs that come with caring for a child with an impairment of his nature.
The money raised by the run and cycle event will go towards replacing the Delport’s money and going towards helping the Small family’s medical bill.
Vryheid is obviously a community that stands together for the good of their own…
