I grew up in a small coastal town on the southern coast of South Africa called Plettenberg Bay. While I was growing up it was one of those towns where everyone knew everyone. Add to that the fact that my parents are restaurateurs who have and still are running the longest owned restaurant, The Med Seafood Bistro, in town meant my family have been well-known in the community for the last 25-30 years.

 

But there was something else the made us known by our community – I was born with Cerebral Palsy, a physical disability that stems from a birth complication.

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CP, as it is often called, comes in various forms and degrees. My disability is purely physical and affects my motor skills as well as my speech and balance. Thanks to my wonderful parents and supportive brother and relatives, it was decided that I would be encouraged to live as normal a life as I could in a world which wasn’t really suited to my needs.

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At age 7 I started to walk and I was sent to a special school which could provide me with the kind of support that I needed at that stage. Looking back I can see, already then, signs of myself dabbling in  activities and academic pursuits that would surprise many. A few certificate for academics, a floating trophy for consistent academic achievement in spite of physical disability, junior chess trophy, horse riding exams were my major achievements in my first five years of schooling. After two emotionally challenging years I moved home and attended a private Christian school. At age 16 I, along with my parents, decided that going to a school was not the best way to finish my education. There were too many requirements and extra activities that were taking time I could be devoting to finishing my school career. So we found a school where under the supervision of the teachers I could finish my final 3 years in two year by doing homeschooling.

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After school I took a gap year before starting at Stellenbosch University down in the Cape in 2004. I initially started a BA In Humanities. After I successfully completing the first two years of my degree, I decided to change my degree to something I was very passionate about but because I had a disability I was advised by educated professional not to study. Later, in 2009, I graduated from Stellenbosch with my Social Work degree in hand.

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Although studying at varsity was not the easiest thing I’ve done in my life, it was the best thing I did. My life kind of started when I came to Stellenbosch.  Here, for the first time in my life I made friends who understood and accepted me. I became a Ballroom and Latin dancer, a leader in the population of students with special needs as well as a three-time winner of the Rector’s Award for Succeeding against the odds.

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After finishing my social work degree, I started a Non Profit Company called Bridging Abilities with a colleague. I was an executive director and operations manager for nine years. The company used sport and recreation to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. In December 2018, I felt that it was time to pursue a few of my other passions, so I resigned from the company.

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In 2013 I took up paracycling and in March of that year I participated in my first local league race for persons with disabilities. During the next 18 months we searched for a racing tricycle as my trike was not suitable for racing. I received my new trike in January 2015 and two week later I was at my first Nationals! Seven months later, in September, I received my national colours and represented South Africa at the World Cup in Pietermarizburg. 2016 Saw me once again take part in the National Champs and the World Cup in Pietermarizburg where I won the overall World Cup in my class. I won my first international medal at the World Championships in 2017 where I won silver in the Road Race. 2018 World Champs in Italy was my first overseas competition.

 

My story is hopefully far from over, so join me on my other pages to see where my journey will go from here.

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