Reaching out

Sunday November 2, 2008

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Reaching out

FOR Marry Franchis and Honasekaran, Oct 21 will be forever etched in their memories as a momentous day because that morning, they were given motorbikes, courtesy of the Reaching Out Club of Sri KDU Secondary School (Sri KDU).

However, these were no ordinary machines – they were Honda EX-5 motorbikes modified for the use of the disabled and presented to the young men as a symbol of friendship.

Marry and Honasekaran are members of the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC), an organisation which aims to change the way people with disabilities view themselves as well as the way the community responds to their needs.

One of the bikes donated by Sri KDU Secondary School.

Honasekaran, 20, was involved in an accident four years ago which left him paralysed from the waist down.

Marry, 28, was born with cerebral palsy and is also a paraplegic.

What is admirable about these young men is their courage to face the challenges of life.

They are determined to be independent despite their disabilities and needed a vehicle to be more mobile.

Through a chance meeting with the founder of ILTC, the Reaching Out Club came up with the idea of raising funds to purchase the motorbikes for Marry and Honasekaran.

For more than six months, enthusiastic members organised various activities to raise funds to buy the bikes.

Parents, staff and students did their bit to make this commitment a reality and by October, had managed to raise a total of RM11,500.

The bikes were modified and sent to Puspakom for inspection and approval.

Marry and Honasekaran have plans to start a small business. They realise that the way forward is for them to take fuller control of their lives.

They have resolved to be independent and work hard to realise their potential.