Former Air Force pilot to travel 55 kilometres on highway in wheelchair
He is aiming to do it in under 10 hours.
Robert Earle, 64, is a former South African Air Force Flight Engineer who became disabled in the late 1970s, while on duty. He was stationed at Bloemfontein at the time of his injury.
On his way back from Cape Town to Bloemfontein in 1978, a technical error with the helicopter’s tail rotor developed, which caused an uncontrolled fall from an altitude of 400 feet (about 130 metres). In this accident, Robert broke four of the vertebrae in his lower back.
Photo: Submitted.
His orthopaedic doctors gave Robert the unfortunate news, that even after recovery and rehab, he would be a paraplegic.
But Robert proved them wrong. After being in a wheelchair for a year, and spending another year on crutches and calipers, Robert’s sheer determination came out stronger and he started walking again, but in 1984, he was declared medically unfit to continue to serve in the Air Force.
As a result of the injury, Robert is still 100 per cent paralysed below his knees, but after 40 years he can still walk with the help of a cane.
Photo: Submitted.
While in Mauritius, after retiring at the age of 61, someone introduced him to scuba diving and the diving bug bit him hard. When he came back to South Africa, he qualified as a diver and has since qualified as both a Rescue and Master Scuba diver.
Robert’s motto in life, is “If you cry – you cry alone; if you laugh – everybody laughs with you”.
Now, Robert is setting another goal – a wheelchair run stretching 55 kilometres.
This is the same distance as from Key West Shopping Centre to the Centurion Moth Hall. He will be using a self-propelled wheelchair, using his arms only. He is planning to do the wheelchair run in under 10 hours.
Robert has a lot of support behind him, and will be accompanied by an official vehicle from the Mogale City Traffic Department.
The main purposes of Robert’s wheelchair run are to give thanks to the Lord for the superb health that has been bestowed on him, and to encourage all people, especially those living with a disability, to never give up. It is Robert’s intention and motive to inspire other disabled people and hopefully get them to try scuba diving – for then he will feel that he has accomplished his goal.
Being inspired by the work that the non-profit company, Handicapped Scuba Association South Africa (HSASA) does, Robert wants to raise awareness and funds for HSASA through his wheelchair run in order for more disabled people to get the opportunity to learn how to scuba dive. Keep a lookout for him on Tuesday, 28 August from 7am to 5pm when he will attempt this route.
If you would like to support Robert in his project you can make a donation of any amount, towards his brave initiative.
Bank details: Handicapped Scuba Association SA
Bank: Absa
Type of account: Cheque
Account no: 4083663706
Branch code: 632005
Reference: Robert Wheelchair Run
SWIFT Code: ABSAZAJJ
Proof of payment: hsasa.office@gmail.com
For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/586139198453902/.
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