#BetterTogether one step at a time
The story of Annelie Koekemoer is a very good testimony of the success achieved with the goals of the SPAR Women’s Challenge Pretoria.
The 2017 Pretoria SPAR Women’s Challenge is encouraging unity through the message that we are #BetterTogether.
Every year, numerous charity organisations are selected to benefit from the proceeds of the race – one of these is Stand with Stan who have come to the rescue of Annelie Koekemoer with the help of SPAR.
After the tragic loss of her leg, single mother Annelie Koekemoer is determined to walk again. 43 year old Annelie was living on a farm near Cullinan with her three sons; Lionel (20), Johan (17) and Rudolph (13) when she lost her leg in a freak accident. Her leg was catastrophically injured and because she did not belong to a medical aid at the time, she was taken to Mamelodi hospital. In an attempt to save her leg she was in hospital for 6 months but the numerous treatments she received were all unsuccessful and in April 2015 the difficult decision was made to amputate her leg.
Just less than a year later, at Steve Biko Hospital, she received a prosthetic leg but has been unable to use the leg at all. It was then that she met Jaco Deist of Deist & Associates. Deist determined that Annelie’s residual limb is too large and it will needs to be compressed to allow her to wear a prosthetic leg. Deist then teamed up with Stand with Stan to make sure that Annelie got the help she needed to one day wear a prosthesis and walk again.
Stand with Stan founder Stan Andrews, who is an amputee himself, founded the organisation in 2013 with the sole purpose of assisting amputees in need that can’t afford the costs of prosthetics.
“At the moment Annelie is on a silicone liner to assist with the process of shrinking her stump. She will need at least three fittings before her stump will reach the size where her final prosthetic leg could be cast,” said Stan.
According to Stan, the funds raised at this year’s Pretoria SPAR Women’s Challenge will make Annelie’s dream come true.
At the heart of the 2017 SPAR Women’s Challenge #BetterTogether message is the idea that while one person can make a difference, together we have the strength and the ability to change the lives of those in our community who need us most. SPAR’s teaming up with Stand with Stan to help Annelie is a perfect example of this.
The 2017 Pretoria SPAR Women’s Challenge takes place on 5 August at SuperSport Park Stadium. For more info, like the ‘SPAR Women’s Challenge Pretoria’ Facebook page, and follow the race on Twitter @SPARladiespta. Entries are available in participating SPAR stores and online at www.sparladiespta.co.za.
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