Oppie Bol foundation, PoortFM host disability awareness fun run event
"There was a great sense of unity and what was especially amazing was seeing how able bodied people came alongside people with disabilities and lent a helping hand."
Oppie Bol foundation together with PoortFM hosted a 5km disability awareness fun run at the soccer stadium in Eersterust recently.
The event served to advocate and sensitise political heads, spheres of government, corporate and the private sector and the broader society on the importance of disability mainstreaming across all boards.
South Africa celebrates national disability rights awareness month annually between November 3 and December 3, with the aim of drawing attention towards removing barriers and improving the quality of life of people with disabilities
There was a diversity of people and having an all-inclusive fun run showcased a society that embraces this diversity.
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PoortFM station manager, Marcolene Roach, said the station was honoured to have so many non-profit organisations who joined them and participated in the event.
“There was a great sense of unity and what was especially amazing was seeing how able-bodied people came alongside people with disabilities and lent a helping hand.
“The event was a huge success as the goal to break societal barriers by promoting disability awareness was achieved,” she said.
The theme for disability rights awareness month was adopted when able-bodied persons did the race in wheelchairs which was evidentially not an easy experience.
Members of the Eersterust CPF volunteered their services at the event.
“We were humbled to have people of great calibre at the event ready to get involved and make a difference. “Debbie (Moses, Current Situation) was as lively as ever providing real time feed of the event.
“Novina (Pillay), the ever-ready help to the community addressed the audience and shared her experience losing her daughter who was a person with a disability.
“Neil (Hofmeester, Oppie Bol’s ambassador) and so many others participate in the run in wheelchairs left us in awe of the strength and determination that they possess,” she said.
“To have the blind participate in the walk assisted by people with sight showed that humanity and compassion still prevails.
“To see the excitement on their faces when they received their medals was a sight to behold. “Amidst the few challenges we experienced, unity and camaraderie was evident. We were united for one common objective and that objective was achieved.
Oppie Bol foundation and PoortFM radio are committed to making a difference said Roach.”
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