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| From left to right Back row: Lebo Mncube (Europcar Marketing), Kenneth and Ntswaki Wynne (Lewis Wynne’s father and mother), Dawn Nathan-Jones (CEO of Europcar) Lindi Cilliers (General Manager: Human Resources, Europcar) and Zavi Stein (General Manager: Marketing, Europcar) Front row: Lewis Wynne |
Press release
New legs for Lewis from Europcar
27 February 2012: Europcar is pleased to announce the official handover of prosthetic legs to Lewis Wynne, the 5 year old boy injured in a school accident in October 2011.
Lewis was critically hurt when a tree fell on his classroom, crushing his legs and his bright future as an able-bodied child. With his new prosthesis, Lewis is now on the road to living a normal life like most other children his age.
The prosthesis was presented to a quietly content Lewis under the watchful eye of his family at Europcar’s offices this morning. “When we heard about Lewis’ story, we were immediately moved and touched by the ordeal that the little boy had gone through and knew that we had to do our bit to help him and his family. Lewis has been a very positive and brave young boy throughout and we are happy that we can help him to become more independent so that he can live the life that every child deserves,”says Dawn Nathan-Jones, CEO of Europcar.
Lewis started grade 1 at Hope School in Westcliff, a special needs school that caters for children with learning and physical disabilities at the beginning of the February. Principle at Hope School, Gert Viljoen says “We’re pleased to have young Lewis with us, he has made new friends since starting school and we are happy with his academic progress. Lewis does however have a challenging road of rehabilitation ahead of him and will need emotional care and attention to help him deal with his new physical circumstances.”
After the accident both Lewis’ legs had to be amputated, one below the knee and other through the knee joint. Together with Europcar, Orthotist/Prosthetist, Eliot Hirschson from Centauri Medical Services was assigned to assess Lewis’ prosthetic needs and has been working with him to provide the right solution. The prosthesis is made from special material that can be molded as Lewis’ legs reduce stump volume. “Seeing the vast improvement in little Lewis from when we initially started working with him to how he has blossomed with confidence after receiving his new legs really makes the work we do worthwhile,” says Kevin Hogg, CEO of Centauri Medical Services.
Since the accident, Europcar has been contributing to the family’s monthly grocery bills and will carry on doing so during 2012. The company will continue to provide transport to and from the hospital for Lewis’s check-ups.