WESTVILLE resident Anton Stoffberg has expressed his gratitude to Checkers Westville for accommodating his paraplegic needs with a specially designed trolley that hooks onto his wheelchair, making shopping significantly easier for him.

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Stoffberg’s journey as a paraplegic began after an unfortunate event that left his lower body paralysed. Despite this challenge, he has continued to live his life as independently as possible, making the necessary adjustments along the way.

One of his biggest struggles was grocery shopping, as he couldn’t push a traditional trolley while using his wheelchair.

“I do my shopping once a month, but it’s difficult because I can’t push a trolley. This means I always have to bring someone along, which puts me on their schedule. I can’t always take my time to compare prices and shop carefully, which is important because I need to stick to a tight budget,” he explained.

While searching for a solution, Stoffberg discovered a specialised trolley that can attach to a wheelchair. Hopeful, he reached out to Checkers Westville Mall manager Classin Pillay, who put him in contact with the retailer’s national management team.

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“In November last year, I submitted a request along with a photo of the trolley. To be honest, I didn’t expect much to come of it,” he admitted.

However, on February 14, during his monthly shopping trip, Stoffberg was pleasantly surprised to find the trolley waiting for him at the store.

“I cannot express how thrilled I was. I’m incredibly grateful to the Checkers Westville team for making a difference in my shopping experience,” he said.

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Stoffberg hopes that other Checkers branches will consider offering the same solution, ensuring that more wheelchair users can enjoy a more independent and convenient shopping experience.

Pillay said Checkers can make these kind of trolleys available upon request at all branches.
“Shoppers that need the trolley can approach us as these trolleys are available upon request. We write an email requesting it from the divisional manager who then signs it off to be delivered wherever it is needed,” she said.

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