Ferrari Club sponsors new set of wheels
FOURWAYS – Although they could not give her a brand new sports car, the Ferrari Club was still able to help Fourways resident Kerry get behind a new set of wheels.
The Southern Equitorial Ferrari Automobile Club gave an alternative meaning to the expression ‘a new set of wheels’ after members raised more than R80 000 for the Walsh family to buy a new wheelchair for their daughter Kerry.
Barry Simon, chairman of the Ferrari club based in Houghton, along with Alison Strydom, the club’s secretary, presented the donation to the Walsh family in person at their home in Fourways on 6 September.
“I initially committed to donate R20 000 [towards a new wheelchair], and then started to worry that we wouldn’t be able to meet that promise,” explained Simon. “But after sending a few emails to club members and extending the deadline for donations until the end of June, we realised that we could actually give much more.”
Kerry (18) was one years old when doctors diagnosed her with a fairly rare disease called spinal muscular atrophy, which affects the control of her muscle movement. She has used a wheelchair since she was five years old but was in need of a new one as she has used her current one since 2011.
A new Permobile wheelchair that is the right size and with the features necessary to keep Kerry comfortable cost about R180 000. In addition to the Ferrari club donations, the Walsh family organised a golf day and other fundraising events to raise the amount needed. They now have enough to pay for a new wheelchair, and can also put some money in a trust fund for her future.
“It’s overwhelming,” said Lindsay Walsh, Kerry’s mother. “There has been so much generosity and kindness towards Kerry I can’t quite believe it.”
Kerry added, “I will be starting university next year, and we will need to buy the new wheelchair before then. I’ll be doing a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications at Varsity College.”
