Listeners on Cape Town airwaves have rallied together in a passionate plea to get their “radio-buddy” Cheryl Murray a desperately needed new wheelchair she simply cannot afford.
Having been confined to a wheelchair since birth due to cerebral palsy, Cheryl is quadriplegic and only has partial use of her left hand which she uses to move herself around in a motorised wheelchair that is now in disrepair.
Being an avid listener to radio station Mix 93.8 she joined the station’s 5AM club where listeners daily share their joys an sorrows on a WhatsApp group.
“I get very lonely and music plays a big part in my life. I listen to the radio station every day to keep me company. I mentioned on the group that I’m in desperate need for a new wheelchair and it’s getting me very down in the dumps because I don’t know how to go about getting a new one.
“They then decided to open a Back-a-Buddy campaign out of the goodness of their hearts and they’re all putting donations in towards a new wheelchair for me and sharing it all over on Facebook as well,” says Cheryl.
She is currently living in a granny flat on her parents property in Ruwari with an all-round caregiver, and is well-known to customers and staff at Protea Heights Spar where she often sits to sell casual day stickers and her hand made chocolates.
“Before living on my parents’ property, I stayed in an institution for disabled people in Durbanville, but things didn’t work out for me and that’s why I moved out. I’m in desperate need of a new wheelchair and can’t afford one as I only get a state disability grant and family unfortunately can’t afford to buy one for me as they’re extremely expensive.”
Limitations
Her sister Barbara Lesley Louw says Cheryl’s disability leaves her with plenty of limitations, mainly in the various areas of body movement, which is permanent.
“It is not a disease and is not genetic and seems to occur at about the time of birth. She is unable to walk and also cannot sit unaided,” she says.
“She is the most loving, friendly and warm person and never stops amazing us with what she achieves and she never stops smiling. Cheryl can knit, crochet and has various other interests.
Her present wheelchair was bought with funds raised more than 10 years ago.
Marie Engelbrecht, the campaign organiser, describes Cheryl as an incredible person who faces the challenges of cerebral palsy with remarkable strength and courage.
“She requires 24-hour care to manage her daily needs, and while we do everything we can to support her, the ongoing costs are overwhelming. We are reaching out to friends, family, and the wider community to help us raise funds for a new electric wheelchair. Every donation, big or small, will make a tremendous difference in her life allowing her to continue living with independence, dignity and comfort.”
Cheryl having a new wheelchair means everything to her.
“It gives me my independence to move myself and is most of all my legs. It isn’t just a chair to me, it is my freedom. I don’t have to sit in one place all the time,” she says.
- To learn more about the campaign go to https://backabuddy.co.za/campaign/wheelchair-for-cheryl-murray or contact her at cheryl.shadow@gmail.com
