Success Stories

Halberg Trust Activity Fund Success Stories

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Marten is off like a shot on his hand cycle

“With support from Halberg Trust, Marten can now ride with his friends and family, be independent in getting to school, do errands for the family and ‘hang out’ with his mates in his local village” says Marguerite Christophers, Halberg Trust Sport Opportunity Adviser at Sport Wellington.

7 year old Marten came from Holland 2 years ago with his parents and 3 younger siblings and are now well settled in the coastal suburb in Wellington.

Marten has a disability involving multiple congenital reduction defects of all extremities manifesting itself with virtual absence of both femurs. He is fiercely independent, walking short distances around the house only and uses a wheel chair for most other mobility.

In Holland Marten had a hand cycle (funded through the Government) which he used instead of a wheel chair, rode with a junior cycle club and did activities outside of school with his friends on bikes. This independence was taken away from him when he moved to NZ resulting in a lower self esteem and level of independence.

The family applied to Halberg Trust in July 2008 for funding support to purchase a new hand cycle for Marten which was duly granted .

“Marten now has his sense of independence back and is able to more fully integrated with his friends within the community” states Marguerite

In November Marten registered in the Westpac Halberg team and rode his hand cycle in the 10km section of the Bike the Bays Fun Ride See photo above. In February he also participated in the Pelorus Trust Round the Bays Fun Run /Walk.

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Joy on her trike and doing the paper rounds

Thanks to the Halberg Trust, Joy received a grant which paid for a specially modified trike that helps Joy complete her paper rounds for the Waikato Times.

Her mother says the independence the tricycle brings has spilled into all aspects of her life. "Ever since she got the tricycle her confidence has shot up." Joy now has hope that one day she can get a real job. Joy is determined a real job is going to be in the newspaper business.

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“Enjoying the outdoors!”
Tautuku Peninsula, The Catlins, South Otago.

Jack has found ‘The MTC Freedom Wheel’ is the best piece of equipment he has used in a long time. It is light weight, compact and collapsible.  It is easy to take anywhere and easy to use.

It works by attaching the clamps to the front of any wheelchair and by turning a handle; it lifts the small front wheels of the wheelchair off the ground. Enabling it to run on the single Freedom Wheel and the large back wheels of the wheelchair. This ‘Wheel’ takes some of the weight and swivels, making the chair extremely maneuverable. With this equipment Jack was able to go places he would not have been able to go before and it travels over many surfaces, with ease.

Recently Jack and his family spent some of the holidays at Tautuku. A place that has always been somewhere to enjoy the outdoors, beach, bush and wildlife. In the past they have struggled to enable Jack to participate. They would have had to drive or carry him about. Now they have the Freedom Wheel which meant they were able to go on many walks. Jack loved being outdoors, with lots of singing and laughter. Jack loved being out doing what others can enjoy, wind, sea and wildlife!

Jack’s family live on a farm and he has already enjoyed chasing the sheep to draft them, in the yards.

It was so much easier to get about on the soccer pitch when watching his sister play and not having Jack sitting there getting frustrated about being stuck in the mud.

It has changed Jacks life; he is now able to enjoy, participate and have adventures in the outdoors with ease!

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