Disabled become mobile with help from Lions’ network

THE Lions Club of Amanzimtoti is working in conjunction with Cycling for Mobility to get wheelchairs to people in need.

This partnership recently saw Lion president Shayne Tocher and Jacqui Scarpa of Cycling for Mobility hand over a wheelchair to Henna Taylor of Toti.

Although Toti Lions Club has wheelchairs, it is only able to loan them out on a short-term basis. However, now worthy beneficiaries, of which Henna is the second recipient in the area, will be able to receive wheelchairs on a permanent basis.

The Cycling for Mobility team was initiated in 2011 with the objective of riding the 2012 Old Mutual Joburg2C, a 930km, nine-day MTB ride which starts in the south of Johannesburg and concludes on Scottburgh beachfront.
“Many fundraising events were held and with the funds raised we purchased 20 wheelchairs. Our intention was to deliver two wheelchairs to deserving needy people who could not afford one, at each of the race villages. The success of the ride was unbelievable and we raised funds for 60 more wheelchairs,” said Jacqui.

At the same time the title sponsor of the race pledged a substantial sum of money towards the organisation’s cause. Earlier in the year, details were finalised and Old Mutual pumped R200,000 towards the cause and with these funds, 133 wheelchairs were purchased.

“We purchased six special wheelchairs for the Enthembeni School for the Disabled in Botha’s Hill. 127 standard wheelchairs have been bought and the last few weeks have been a hive of activity with distributing them to various foundations along the Joburg2C route, with the help of XPS Courier Service and by working closely with the Old Mutual Foundation.”
Twenty wheelchairs have been delivered to five foundations in Johannesburg, the Free State and Umzinto and Amandawe on the South Coast.