Wynne for Lewis

”WYNNE FOR LEWIS” CAMPAIGN

On 14 October 2011, 5 year old Lewis Wynne’s life changed forever.  In a freak accident at the Carter Primary School, Alexandra, Johannesburg, a huge tree fell over the Grade R classroom where Lewis was sitting. He lost both his lower legs and his dream of becoming a Policeman, serving the community of Alexandra, was shattered.  He is now wheelchair bound.

I had the privilege of attending Iron Man 2011, held in Port Elizabeth, and witnessed the Pritt Kids campaign, where the funds generated, are donated to specific beneficiaries taking care of Physical and Mentally disabled children.

I was planning a Big Running year for 2012, but at that moment when I saw some of these children taking part in the “race”, I knew I had to run for a purpose and not just run because I can….I spent the year looking and searching for this purpose, and when I saw the E TV news Bulletin that night, I knew I had found my Purpose, and the “Wynne For Lewis” Campaign was born!

As a mother of a very busy and active 6 year old boy myself, I was devastated knowing that Lewis will never run and climb, and have a normal life like other kids. Life had dealt him a hard blow, one I’m hoping to soften a bit for him.

I am planning to run a minimum of 600 kilometers in official races, starting on the 14th of October 2011 to 14 October 2012. The Big races in which I will be running are the African X Trail Run in Kleinmond, a 3 day stage race  over a distance of approximately 95 kilometers, The Two Oceans Marathon in Cape Town, 56 kilometers, The Comrades Marathon in Durban, 89 kilometers and The 100 Miler Washie, 160 kilometers, in the Eastern Cape.

I am hoping to raise enough funds through public and corporate donations and sponsorships to help Lewis. A once off donation can be made or per kilometer sponsorships or through any other relevant mean. Europcar has undertaken to sponsor the prosthetic legs and the maintenance there off, but there is a much bigger picture when you realize that his home is not handicapped friendly, he needs to attend a special school, the rehab to learn to walk, run and climb again, the trauma counseling to work through what had happened so that the nightmares can be put to sleep and his dreams to live a normal life can be restored.