Your chance to make a difference

POLOKWANE – In support of Wheelchair Wednesday, Mercurius Motors Polokwane personnel spent four hours in a wheelchair last Wednesday.

Initiated by the association for persons with disabilities (APD), Wheelchair Wednesday aims to make a difference by donating wheelchairs to underprivileged people living with disabilities and to give the participants a better understanding of the challenges people living with disabilities face.

Companies that participate in the campaign sponsor at least one wheelchair worth R6 000 and select the beneficiary of the wheelchair.

As part of the campaign, the representatives of each company spend four hours in a wheelchair and carry out tasks given to them by Johnny Graham, Limpopo APD promotions and awareness officer.

Tasks include going to the supermarket, withdrawing money from an ATM and doing daily duties at the office.

One of the participants, Eugenia Ntuli, shared her experience.

“After I collected the wheelchair, it was a challenge to get through the door. Once I did, it took me 15 minutes to get on the taxi. I went to a mall, but unfortunately there was load shedding, so I couldn’t proceed with my journey to the bank.

I then went to one of the banks in another mall, but the wheelchair could not fit through the doors and I had to wait outside for assistance where one of the consultants came to my rescue. Once I was done at the ATM, I went to the restroom which was also not an easy thing to do. The third stop was Mercurius Commercial, where my office is on the top floor and we don’t have any facilities for disabled people.

The personnel had to carry me upstairs and I asked if they would do this everyday if I was permanently disabled.”

Ntuli said she now had respect for people who use wheelchairs.

“There were a lot of things that I wanted to do but I couldn’t because I could not make use of my feet.

I cannot believe that you still find people who do not have respect for those who are in a wheelchair,” she said.

She also said the challenge made her appreciate the little that she had.

Graham said they needed 40 wheelchairs this year and encouraged companies, social groups and individuals to participate in the campaign.