By Callum Ludwig
Wandin North Primary School students got on a roll with their fundraising efforts for a Wheelathon event held to mark the end of Term One.
Raising money for Wheelchairs for Kids, as part of the experience students got to test out the model of wheelchairs their money will go towards providing for children who need them around the world.
Wandin North Primary School Principal Paul Bailey said it was a great opportunity for the students and school community to give back to a worthy cause.
“Our students gained an appreciation of the challenges some children may face if they have a physical impairment that takes away their ability to walk,” he said.
“Wheelchairs for Kids representatives, Russell and Grant, came to one of our whole school assemblies prior to the event to provide context for the students, so they could gain a greater understanding of the organisation.”
Over 300 colleges and schools in Melbourne and Perth have to date provided over 8000 wheelchairs through school wheelathon events.
Mr Bailey said students completed laps of the school oval, while the senior Kids Council Representatives ensured the students were participating in a safe manner.
“The Wheelathon highlighted the challenges that individuals may face and why it is important to give back, have empathy for others and also be grateful and demonstrate gratitude for what we do have. It is important for our students to celebrate the difference in others, not pass judgment and have the opportunity to step in someone else shoes,” he said.
“Lucky, we had the Rotary Club of Wandin fuelling the students because they were tired, students were in pairs due to the physical demands of wheeling the chairs, however, there were plenty of smiles,”
“As a school, we began to raise money in the weeks leading up to the Wheelathon and I know in my senior classes, there were competitions as to which class could raise the most. In the end, I believe we raised enough money to construct eight wheelchairs for the Wheelchair for Kids foundation, which is a brilliant result.”
The students in wheelchairs weren’t the only ones working hard, with Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Wandin also coming along and cooking over 500 sausages to fuel the kids and fundraise.
Rotarian Peter Johnson, who is on the group’s Youth committee and previously chaired it, said it was great to be part of the event.
“The Rotary contribution in dollars was $450 and the sausage sizzle raised a further $820,” he said.
“We even over-catered with the sausages so there were plenty of free ones at the end which the students and staff were most appreciative of,”
“It’s just really good to be involved with the local schools and we are looking forward to future activities.”
Any local schools interested in hosting their own wheelathon can contact Russell Hayes at 0414 600 721 or ruscle@bigpond.com.
