October, 2008
For a few short hours yesterday, the little town of Bethlehem doubled its compliment of wise men from three to six ... when myself (ahem...), Koos Radebe and Thys Cronje drifted into town. Accompanied by the rather stunning and effervescent, Tshego Tabane, we arrived at this humble little hamlet in two vehicles.
Why two vehicles for only four of us, you ask indignantly? Is that not a rather flamboyant waste of fuel in these economically turbulent times? Were we not being somewhat reckless with our carbon emissions?
Well ... no. We were not.
Allow me to explain.
Much like the real wise men from many, many moons ago, we were too following a bright star. However, while theirs was in the sky ... ours was perched at the end of one of our shiny vehicles. It was the silver star of a Mercedes Benz. A Mercedes Benz 17-seater bus to be precise ... a bus that we were about to donate to the Phedisang Bana home for the handicapped.
The home cares for many children and young adults that suffer from a wide range of mental and physical handicaps. For the past two years or so, Tracker has supported the home financially and in kind with wheelchair donations, furniture, blankets etc, but decided to donate the vehicle after the home made an impassioned plea for assistance with transport.
From my own perspective, I can tell you that if you are feeling at all disillusioned with mankind and want to experience something to pick up your spirits ... then visit this wonderful home. There are a few angels there ... of that, I am certain.
The function was held at a municipal park in Bethlehem and I can report that as Koos pulled in with the new bus, the place went wild with celebration! The children (those that could) ran after the vehicle and when Koos emerged he was wildly embraced by all of them.
Again, those that could burst into song and Koos then took some of them on an impromptu drive through town before returning for the official handover.
After various speeches by Koos, the owners of the home and several local municipal and government officials, the vehicle was handed over. It's a gift that, in a single stroke, has transformed their lives.
If this isn't 'Taking Back Tomorrow' in action ... then I'm not sure what is, quite frankly.
As a final note, there is a boy at this home who was born healthy. Healthy, that is, until his parents abused him so badly, that he was left paralysed from the waist down and badly brain damaged. An elderly lady from the community, a stranger really, took him in when he was only a baby and raised him as her own. Today he is six years old. She ... must be seventy. During the function, something miraculous happened. We watched, in a kind of stunned disbelief ... as he first stood and then began to walk. It's worth noting that the boy has been medically declared 'as paralysed'...
Yesterday, I can assure you, was a very good day for everyone at Tracker. We've changed some very special lives. It's certainly a day that I won't ever forget.
Here's the whole team ... and the home's brand new vehicle! The small boy in the foreground, with his back to the camera ... is the one I'm talking about.
For more information, please contact Gareth Crocker,
Communications Manager for Tracker on gcrocker@tracker.co.za,
(011) 380 0300 or 082 78 78 757.