Golfers from the business world will be helping young people with a disability such as Bethany Loats on May 7.
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Bethany, 10, was all smiles when she went for a spin in her new Hippocampe All Terrain Wheelchair at North Beach on Friday just days after it was delivered on Monday thanks to Kids Fund at the Disability Trust.
Kids Fund was able to help when NDIS was not able to
But that would not be possible without events such as Figtree Lions Golf Day for the Disability Trust at Calderwood Valley Golf Course.
Bethany’s father Evan Loats expressed his gratitude to Kids Fund and all its supporters.
He said Precious Beth has a condition called Lissencephaly which literally means "smooth brain".
It is a rare, gene-linked brain malformation characterised by the absence of normal folds in the cerebral cortex.
“She is unable to walk and talk and she needs full assistance. She has seizures and we have to feed her purees and things like that”.
“This all terrain chair is able to take Bethany into the water and along bush tracks where a normal wheelchair wouldn’t be able to go. One of our key goals is more family inclusion in social activities. Even though the NDIS declined to fund the chair we thank God for Kids Fund and people like the Lions who contributed.”
“We now have the ability to take Bethany where all our other kids want to go. No longer is she left out with one parent on the side. We have three other children. They are all active and all want to do fun stuff. We have got big balloon wheels for this chair as well if we need them. You can even get a ski attachment if you want and take it in the snow.”
Disability Trust’s Margaret Biggs said it was the support of organisions such as Lions and community participation in events such as the golf day is what made it possible for Kids Fund to help more children with a disability in the Illawarra.
“Kids Fund is completely reliant on donations from the community. The Disability Trust acts as the administrator for Kids Fund with absolutely no administration charges”.
Mrs Biggs said Figtree Lions is a long standing supporter of Kids Fund and the annual charity golf day raises around $10,000 each year.
Bethany is planning to attend the golf day in her own special golf buggy that may be the envy of every golfer particularly around the sand traps.