Nothing can stop them

Alma Mater School hosted the 10th Inter Centre Friendly Athletics event, which featured a number of non-profit organisations that mainly cater to people living with disabilities.

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Despite their physical disabilities, nothing could stop the participants from proudly representing their teams and showcasing their skills and competitive passion for the sport.

According to programme co-ordinator Elisma Classen, over 200 people took part showcasing their talent in several athletic events such as 100m races, long-distance running, high jump and shot put.

“We had various disability centres from various districts mainly in the West Rand that participated in the event, such as Connie Mulder Centre, the Gateway Society, Cosmos Home and West Rand Association for Persons with Disabilities.

The event is part of an initiative for people living with disabilities by the Department of Social Development’s active programme,” Elisma said.

The activities held by these organisations allow the participants to socialise and engage with society as much as possible. There is a stigma against those with disabilities, that they are unable to partake in what is considered to be normal however, Elisma added that this event aims to rid society of that idea.

• Also read: Learners with special needs compete in athletics

“At the end of the day, while many of our participants have disabilities, it still does not stop them from having a good time and embodying the competitive spirit of the sports they chose to partake in. We also wish to bring awareness to their plight and hope people can become more aware of their humanity,” Elisma said.