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After almost three decades Jeremy Hazell (72) knows the daily challenges that come with being wheelchair bound and is now taking on a 900 km journey to help others in a similar position.
The Somerset West resident is trekking from his childhood home in Gqeberha to Stellenbosch in his wheelchair to raise funds for others with disabilities.
“I know the discomfort, deprivations and inconveniences, have been a wheelchair user for 26 years,” he said. “Through my voluntary work with ChangeAbility, an NPO that works with people with disabilities, I have learnt that those living in local underdeveloped communities have far greater daily challenges than I have with all my privileges.”
Now Hazell is hitting the road on Friday 19 May.
Once an active runner, canoeist and hiker he became wheelchair-bound after falling on Table Mountain. Before then his weekends were filled with marathons such as the Comrades, the Berg River Canoe Marathon and the Argus Cycle Tour, and despite the accident he was determined to keep up his active lifestyle.
“Once I had a suitable wheelchair and my FreeWheel attachment – a third wheel that lifts my small front wheels off the ground – there was no holding me back.”
In his wheelchair Hazell has participated in the Two Oceans half-marathon, the Peninsula Marathon and the full Two Oceans Marathon.
Despite his love for the outdoors he isn’t looking to help others become disabled sport stars, but rather to help them get through their day.
“The Department of Social Development’s recent cutbacks on grants to ChangeAbility has seriously challenged our capacity to support people with disabilities in our target areas,” he explained. This is why he aims to raise R200 000 from his journey.
ChangeAbility’s CEO Dr Cindy Wiggett-Barnard said the organisation served around 400 clients annually, which means the money collected from Hazell’s journey would be a much-needed boost to the budget.
“We offer support to people with disabilities in the communities of Cloetesville, Khayamandi, Klapmuts, Groendal and Macassar with a range of activities, and provide crucial individual peer support and social work services to promote well-being and holistic care.”
The organisation is looking to expand to reach more beneficiaries.V A dedicated online crowdfunding campaign has been set up in support of Jeremy’s admirable cross-country journey and can be accessed at https://www.givengain.com/project/jeremy-raising-funds-for-changeability-75413.
