Witnessing an ageing mother struggling to carry her child, who suffers from cerebral palsy, up an embankment struck such a chord with Pat Goosen that he decided to roll up his sleeves and help those with the condition.
Goosen joined the Madiba Sunrise Cerebral Palsy Home, a non-profit organisation founded by Doris Joubert in 2006. She is mother to Varden, 32, who lives with the condition.
Joubert commended the work done by Goosen, saying that although she had always had the desire to grow the organisation by reaching out to families with the same challenges she had, Goosen had helped to make it all possible.
“Although Pat joined the organisation years after I had founded it, he has been doing incredible work in helping families of children with the condition and making our lives easier.”
Joubert said Goosen was creative in organising fundraisers and getting donations to deliver nappies, toiletries and food parcels to the home-based patients, who they visited at least once a month, although at times they had to fork out from their own pockets.
“We serve impoverished communities where many people are unemployed, especially if in some cases parents have to stay at home to look after children,” said Joubert.
The group cares for more than 200 children with various illnesses, including 14 people with cerebral palsy.
Goosen said he felt that people with cerebral palsy were often forgotten and not accommodated in society, which he is striving to change.
“I have tried to assist the group in a very small way. I, however, became more passionately involved when I saw how an ageing mother struggled to carry her cerebral palsy child up an embankment to get onto the road in an effort to get her child’s grant approved in the Parkside community hall,” said Goosen.
“They had to physically present the children to the department of social development.”
Joubert said Goosen had initiated various projects to fix schools and clear bushy fields to minimise crime.
“He has also scouted sporting talent in mountainous rural areas where most people would not think to look.”
Williams, who nominated Goosen, attends St Albans Anglican Church where Goosen is a church warden. He said he was inspired by the philanthropic work he did.
“One Sunday afternoon he took me and a group of people to show us personally what difficult circumstances these kids live in.
“All these kids are cared for by either their respective parents or guardians who live off social grants.
“Mr Goosen has been taking from his own pocket to assist and make a difference in these kids’ lives. His never-give-up and God-fearing attitude has earned him the right to be called a local hero for what he does for these kids.” — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Local hero helps cerebral palsy kids
Goosen joined the Madiba Sunrise Cerebral Palsy Home, a non-profit organisation founded by Doris Joubert in 2006. She is mother to Varden, 32, who lives with the condition.
Joubert commended the work done by Goosen, saying that although she had always had the desire to grow the organisation by reaching out to families with the same challenges she had, Goosen had helped to make it all possible.
“Although Pat joined the organisation years after I had founded it, he has been doing incredible work in helping families of children with the condition and making our lives easier.”
Joubert said Goosen was creative in organising fundraisers and getting donations to deliver nappies, toiletries and food parcels to the home-based patients, who they visited at least once a month, although at times they had to fork out from their own pockets.
“We serve impoverished communities where many people are unemployed, especially if in some cases parents have to stay at home to look after children,” said Joubert.
The group cares for more than 200 children with various illnesses, including 14 people with cerebral palsy.
Goosen said he felt that people with cerebral palsy were often forgotten and not accommodated in society, which he is striving to change.
“I have tried to assist the group in a very small way. I, however, became more passionately involved when I saw how an ageing mother struggled to carry her cerebral palsy child up an embankment to get onto the road in an effort to get her child’s grant approved in the Parkside community hall,” said Goosen.
“They had to physically present the children to the department of social development.”
Joubert said Goosen had initiated various projects to fix schools and clear bushy fields to minimise crime.
“He has also scouted sporting talent in mountainous rural areas where most people would not think to look.”
Williams, who nominated Goosen, attends St Albans Anglican Church where Goosen is a church warden. He said he was inspired by the philanthropic work he did.
“One Sunday afternoon he took me and a group of people to show us personally what difficult circumstances these kids live in.
“All these kids are cared for by either their respective parents or guardians who live off social grants.
“Mr Goosen has been taking from his own pocket to assist and make a difference in these kids’ lives. His never-give-up and God-fearing attitude has earned him the right to be called a local hero for what he does for these kids.” — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
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