Cyclists take a stance for disabled children
Kamagugu Inclusive School were among many other charities that kicked off this hot day on two wheels.
MBOMBELA – More than 30 Sukumani Dream cyclists across the country, with an impressive number of them being locals, were among the 33 000 riders who participated in the Momentum 94.7 cycle challenge on Sunday.
Debbie Cresswell and Kabi Krige (both occupational therapists) and Alison Walker (a physiotherapist) started the project in October 2013 and named it the Sukumani Dream (meaning the dream of standing up) as a way of broadening awareness for the children they care for. They all work with children with a wide range of disabilities, especially those with cerebral palsy. It started as a small project to help kids at a rural hospital (Themba Hospital) just outside Mbombela. It has since expanded and they have recently donated a batch of 11 frames to Tonga and Shongwe hospitals (near Malalane) and are now also helping children in Gauteng (Kalofong Hospital). “Our dream is to expand our range of supportive equipment and to assist children in a lot more provinces over time,” says Cresswell.
They were among many other charities that kicked off this hot day on two wheels. According to Debbie, the new route challenged a number of riders, “Fortunately we all made it to the finish, where we all then relaxed and celebrated under our Sukumani Dream charity gazebo”.
Sukumani Dream is now an established non-profit company. This organisation raises money by completing sporting events such as this cycle challenge and look for sponsors and donations to build wooden standing frames for children with cerebral palsy. Due to their physical limitations, many of them are unable to walk or even sit, and therefore need supportive equipment to allow them to do so. Standing (even for children who will most probably never walk) has been proven to have numerous benefits. Currently these frames are being made at Kamagugu Inclusive School, which is one of the only government schools catering for children with learning barriers in Mpumalanga. A second site was identified this year, namely Service Products in Selby, Johannesburg. This is a sheltered employment facility that offers employment to adults with disabilities.
Enquiries: sukumanidream@gmail.com, 084-504-5475 or visit its Facebook page.
