Budding Rotarians have not been spinning their wheels this year, with the Rotary Club of Emerald and District EarlyAct Club launching its first event earlier this month, a ‘Wheelathon’ to raise money for charity Wheelchairs for Kids.
Since launching the club at Emerald Primary School in May, 23 Grade 5 and 6 students have been busy thinking about how to support the school community, the broader Emerald community, the international community and the environment, with a group dedicated to each of these themes.
On Thursday 19 September, the EarlyAct Club held its first event – a ‘Wheelathon’ – at Emerald Primary School in conjunction with Wheelchairs for Kids, a volunteer based not-for-profit organisation which helps children in developing countries who need access to wheelchairs.
Manufactured in Western Australia, the wheelchairs are designed to be adjustable, with children who receive a wheelchair also receiving a knitted blanket and soft toy from Wheelchairs for Kids.
Wheelchairs for Kids representatives Grant Klaaysen and Russell Hayes provided 40 wheelchairs for the students to use and Rotary Club members were on hand throughout the day to assist.
As classes came out in pairs all the students were given the opportunity to both push and ride in a wheelchair.
Younger classes navigated their way through a course on the basketball courts, while older students had to locate various fact sheets which were located throughout the school grounds.
The students raised $4696 through sponsorship from family and friends, with Emerald Rotary donated funds to pay for two wheelchairs, with the overall total helping to purchase 17 wheelchairs for children in developing countries.
