To commemorate International Day for Persons with Disabilities, Tshwane Rehabilitation Hospital held a public wheelchair race (FunRoll) to advocate for persons with disabilities. It took place on November 25, 2017 and covered a 2,5-km route around Tshwane Rehabilitation Hospital.
What started as a humble initiative by the hospital gained momentum when it partnered with the City of Tshwane Disability Directorate. On the day, and in the rain, more than 200 persons with physical and mental disabilities participated in a truly heart-warming event.
Participants included patients from Tshwane Rehabilitation Hospital and from areas in and around Tshwane. The city organised accessible buses to transport many of the participants. People without disabilities who participated were also given an opportunity to hire a wheelchair and “roll a mile” to get a feel for the life of people living with disabilities.
It was incredible to see the compassion, caring and kindness shown by volunteers and participants alike. The spirit of the event reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to the community it serves. The Tshwane Rehabilitation Hospital FunRoll will become an annual event.
Tshwane Rehabilitation Hospital is the only gazetted public physical rehabilitation hospital in Gauteng. Currently, the hospital is engaged in finalising an infrastructure upgrade to make rehabilitation services more accessible to the public.
