Is a registered non-profit organisation. The home offers 24-hour nursing facilities, accommodation in private rooms, full meals and snacks. They also provide laundry and cleaning services, wheelchair accessible transport, access to therapy and psycho-social support. The home also has 2 gyms, a therapy swimming pool, and a charity and coffee shop on the premises. The Home is considered one of its kind and is recognised by the Department of Social Development, Workman’s Compensation and Road Accident fund who refers individuals to the home. Many of the residents have been tenants for over 20 years and it is a tight knit community Andre cannot communicate verbally and uses sign language and expressions to communicate. As he has lived at Ann Harding for such a long period of time, they have become accustomed to his ways of communicating and they understand all of his needs. Andre is very comfortable at the Ann Harding and Cheshire home. He radiates happiness and is loved by the staff and volunteers alike. He is to this day besotted with motorbikes and is blessed to have motorbike clubs that visit him on a regular basis at the home.

Profile:

My disability is my strength and that is what makes me different from the rest.I try to push myself every day to the ultimate limits – mentally, physically and spiritually.

There is no specific key or remedy to success, I believe success is never giving up and overcoming anything that life throws at you – Just keep on moving forward.

Everything is possible if you put your mind to it – Mind over matter.

Massive steps of action are needed such as: hard work, dedication, commitment, sacrifice, effort, patience, consistency and self-discipline. If you can master all of the elements above, you will definitely rise above the rest and your goals will be reached.

I am somebody that strives to be the best every day.

I love being an inspiration and motivation to others and giving people hope.

 Mottos in life:

• You’re not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have.
• Credete in voi stessi – Always believe in yourself
• Don’t give up!

I am proud to say that I am disabled. I lost my right arm, shoulder and blade bone on the 20^th of April 2007 playing rugby for my school’s first team.

I was 12 years old at the time. My limb was amputated due to a flesh eating bacteria (Necrotizing Fasciitis myositis), that nearly cost me my life.  I was in hospital for 5 months (3 months Icu and 2 months in High Care).  For the period in Icu I was in a seduced coma and on life support.  I was in theatre 47 times.

 After this I had to undergo many occupational therapy and physio therapy sessions.  In short I had to learn how to write and do everything else with my left hand as I was right handed. 

God blessed me with a second chance in life, and without Him and the support of my family, friends and doctors at a Private Hospital in Alberton and The Children’s Red Cross hospital in Cape Town, I would have not survived this battle.

My disability is my strength and it never stood in my way of what I wanted to achieve in life. It made me the person you see today.

Sport and fitness is in my blood and it will always be. Before I lost my arm I was competing in many sports.  I was playing rugby and cricket for my schools 1^st team and I was doing athletics.

Athletics was always my favourite.  It is an individual sport.  And what you put in you will get out.

Athletics has taught me numerous things.

i.e.: If you line up for a 110 hurdle race. Your start is excellent but you fall over a hurdle.  What are you going to do? Get back up and finish the race or stay down and have all the excuses in the world why you have not finish.

This is how life works.  We all have our own crosses to carry.  We all have hurdles to overcome.  Some are harder than others.  But it is your choice if you going to stand up and carry on or keep lying down.  

My athletic goals in the next 5 years

• My wish is to qualify for the World Championships in Paris 2023 and the 2024 Paris Paralympic games.   
• I want to be the fastest disabled sprinter in SA with 2 x SA records in 100m & 200m.
• Eventually I Am aiming for the 400m (Paris Olympics)
• I want to be an ambassador for South Africa and disabled athletes.
• To be a motivational speaker, to share my story and journey to the world.
• I definitely wish to study further to have a career after my athletics journey.
• To have a solid support system such as sponsorships to help support my dreams and goals.
• I want to grow my social media so I will have a solid and consistent platform to work off and promote myself
• To be an inspiration for all disabled athletes in SA and all over the world.

 My achievements in my athletic career

• I was in the relay team for my high school in 2013. Running against abled body athletes.
• South African championships for disabled athletes in 2013: gold medal winner for 100m & 200m.
• South African championships for disabled athletes in 2019: gold medal winner for 100m & 200m

 What am I doing at the moment to achieve my goals?

• I am currently in Stellenbosch. Training with a squad of other Paralympians.
• My coach is the highly qualified SA Olympic coach – Suzanne Ferreira
• I have qualified for the SA Para championship in March 2022 at Germiston.
• I hope to qualify for the Commonwealth Games at this meeting.
• I am also a student teacher at Laerskool Stellenbosch.
• I am also enrolled at Oxford Academy for a course in tourism.

 What I need to enhance my career?

• I am looking for a main sponsorship to support me financially with all my athletics needs like coaching, gear, biokinetics and physio.
• I am also looking for a sponsor to help me with my travel arrangements. At the moment I must pay for Uber to work and back and then to practice and back. I have a license for any automatic car.

If any company will be willing to sponsor a vehicle for me, I would appreciate it. Any branding or marketing on the vehicle is more than welcome. I am desperate and will drive anything.

• I also need money to pay my studies and rent.

Appreciation

I would like to thank everybody who is willing to take time to read my story and thanks for anybody who is willing to sponsor me to make my dreams come true.

If you would like to help me with any sponsorship, you can contact me or my stepfather Juan Labuschagne on (064 660 5966)

Thank you

Wynand van Graan

083 460 1506