Walking through Africa to Help Disabled Children - Walk4Wheels!

Posted by Landia on June 22 2011 in Epic Journeys,

Craig will be raising funds to help change the lives of 222 children with disabilities on his 222-day Walk4Wheels journey from Cape Town to Egypt. An inspiring goal of assisting one child per day on the road!

Craig's campaign, Walk4Wheels, aims to

“...raise funds to provide the 222 children with the aids and devices they need, and their families and communities with knowledge.” (MediaClubSouthAfrica.com)

On his way through 15 African countries Craig will be giving workshops, distributing information and creating awareness about living with disabilities in Africa, by

“....promoting the needs of the differently-abled in each country”

As if the walk with a cause isn't enough of a feat, this courageous adventurer will be relying entirely on people’s generosity as he makes his way through South Africa, Botswana,Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and finally Egypt!

Craig has never travelled outside of South Africa on the African continent but this 27-year old from Cape Town now looks forward to a eye-opening journey of discovery.

Raised to appreciate life's opportunities and "make things happen" this independent young South African is well-equipped for his walk of goodwill through Africa.

Walk4Wheels will be helping to spread awareness about the inspirational work done by the Chaeli Campaign, a non-profit organization founded by children, for children with disabilities.

The Chaeli Campaign mission is to:

“mobilise the minds and bodies of children with disabilities and to normalise society through advocacy and education programmes and events.” (Walk4Wheels Blog)

Started in August 2004 the Chaeli Campaign was founded by five girls between the ages of 6 and 12 to raise funds for a motorized wheelchair for Chaeli, one of the girls in the group. Chaeli and Erin Mycroft and lifelong friends, the Terry sisters (Tarryn, Justine and Chelsea) raised R20 000 for Chaeli’s motorised wheelchair in just a few weeks.

With the success of their fundraising efforts the girls decided to continue with the Chaeli Campaign in order to help other disabled children in need of assistance. Today this growing non-profit even provides occupational and speech therapy, as well as physiotherapy.

Craig has teamed up well for Walk4Wheels as this Cape Town based organization has successfully

“...changed the lives of hundreds of children, and got the beneficiaries' families, friends, classmates and communities involved too.”

Working alongside the Chaeli Campaign Walk4Wheels aims to help:

“eradicate the stigma associated with disability that still prevails in much of Africa, and educate communities about the needs and capabilities of disabled children.” (SA-people.com)

Join Walk4Wheels on Facebook or follow the African Charity Walk on Twitter.

Sponsor a day of Craig's charity walk via GivenGain for R222 and get acknowledged on Facebook and Twitter.

Or see the Walk4Wheels blog for other ways to help - including giving this brave South African a meal or a roof over his head on his long journey.

Photos from Walk4Wheels.