MULTISPORT
Orthopaedic chairs , a . k . a . Buggies , made and distributed by the Paige Project
The four friends behind the Paige Project chair for Paige , so that she could sit up and grow as best as possible .
“ Around that same time , I was raising money for my niece ’ s school , the New Hope School Art in Pretoria , to have a new computer lab built , and the Paige fundraiser went well , so the four of us decided to start an official NPO , and we called it the Paige Project ,” says Theo . “ Over the last 11 years we have done amazing things , including a golf days , comedy and music events , and an annual fundraising double loop ride in the 947 . We even had Springbok rugby legend Joel Stransky and four-time Tour De France winner Chris Froome riding in Paige Project kit the one year !”
The NPO ’ s mission is to raise funds for children in disadvantaged communities that are living with physical and mental disabilities primarily caused by cerebral palsy . “ These disabilities are grossly overlooked by society and receive very little mainstream attention , and having family members that suffer from cerebral palsy , we know first-hand exactly what this means ,” says Theo .
“ It is our vision to bring as much comfort as we can to those affected , because in most cases they will never have a chance to live any kind of normal life , and will require care the rest of their lives . The first few years of a cerebral palsy child ’ s life are the most important for their development , thus it is imperative that these children receive the correct equipment and therapy to improve not only their quality of life , but their chance of living as close to a normal life as possible .”
Paige Project riders at the Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg race
Theo and David Barson ready to ride another Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg race
He goes on to explain that sadly , many of these children end up in a place of safety after being abandoned , and then they are often put onto a bed , mat or carpet , whatever is available , and just lie there until somebody does something about it . “ These kids all too often cannot interact with their communities , because they don ’ t have caregivers that are trained to look after cerebral palsy children The only change to their life is going from where they are kept to a bathing area , and maybe they are allowed to listen to the noise of the TV that ’ s on , or maybe get taken outside now and again , but most of the time they ’ re just inside the whole time .”
Making a Difference
The Paige Project therefore runs a mobile clinic and assists children and young adults with varying disabilities living in care centres who are in dire need . “ The organisation is an NPO , run by the four volunteer directors , all of whom have full-time jobs , and they employ me to go out into communities and assist where and how we can ,” says Ruth Stubbs . “ The need is great , and unfortunately , those with disabilities are often
The Paige Project mobile clinic vehicle
One of the children that has been helped by the Paige Project
marginalised , abandoned and rejected . We offer as much support as we can and try our utmost to do what we can on every level .”
One of the far-reaching and life-changing initiatives of the Paige Project is to repair , refurbish and adapt wheelchairs specially for use by children with cerebral palsy , say Theo . “ Ruth brought the idea to us , and that changed the trajectory of this charity . She has a step-by-step proprietary process to turn a wheelchair into a beautiful , custom-made orthopaedic chair – that ’ s the correct medical term , I think , but we call them Buggies . The emphasis is on early intervention , because when these children are sitting in the right way as early as possible , their body can start growing as best as possible , because their bodies are often completely skewed .”
The Paige Project therefore relies on donations not only of funding , but also of old or damaged wheelchairs that can be repaired and repurposed . “ You ’ d be surprised how many hospitals have got a little storeroom , or a section at the back of the hospital , where old or damaged wheelchairs are just tucked away and left . Whatever it is – a wheelchair or an orthopaedic chair – we ’ ll take
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