By BRIDGET COOK
HAMPTON Park man Olivier de Baize has a set of flashy new wheels thanks to a group of generous people.
Mr de Baize, who attends Yooralla’s day support service in Noble Park, has cerebral palsy and quadriplegia and requires a wheelchair for mobility.
Over time the shape of Mr de Baize’s spine has changed and his back no longer matched the shape of his previous wheelchair, causing him discomfort and the weight making it hard for his carers to push around.
His family were $3159 short of the $12,960 need to purchase a new, suitable wheelchair and that’s when the generous staff at Bendigo Bank stepped in.
The bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation team put out the call to staff to raise money for a new wheelchair and a whip around resulted in enough money being raised for the new wheels.
Mr de Baize’s mother Monique said her son has had the new chair for a while and it had made a huge difference to both Olivier and the people who support him.
“Olivier’s back has become curved over time and the backrest in the new chair moulds to his form, so it is much more comfortable for him to sit in for long periods,” she said.
“The new chair is much lighter, so it is easier for us, his parents, and his carers to manoeuvre.
“The back and seat have removable covers which make it much easier to clean and the chair is not as wide as his old one which makes it easier to get in and out of places such as the car.
“It also glows in the dark, which Olivier loves, especially when he goes to the local disco or a family party – it’s quite a talking point.”
Community Enterprise Foundation chief executive Callum Wright said when staff heard that Olivier’s family needed less than $4000 to purchase a new wheelchair he desperately needed, everyone pitched in to help.
“We started with our Bendigo head office building, including staff at our trustee company, Sandhurst Trustees,” he said.
“Pretty soon we had donations coming in from staff in our Melbourne, Adelaide and Queensland offices.
“We were pleased to be involved in making life a little more comfortable for Olivier and his family.”
