A 28-year-old para-athlete from Johannesburg is determined to complete his mission of raising disability awareness and funds to provide a prosthetic leg to a local teenager. Sean Clarke of Craighall Park will cycle the 1 520km to Cape Town alone, recover for 24 hours and then swim approximately 7.5km from Robben Island to Big Bay.
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Clarke was seven years old when he suffered a severe injury that caused him to lose the use of his left leg. In June 2002, he jumped off a roof and kicked his leg into a pane of glass, severing the back of his knee. Clarke was left with advanced foot drop and paralysis from the knee down as a result of the laceration of the main nerves and arteries.
His disability has never stopped him from achieving his dreams, and in August 2022, he ran the Comrades Marathon, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
After the marathon, doctors advised Clarke to seek alternative physical activities that would put less strain on his hips and knees. He looked into swimming and cycling as alternatives, and he hasn’t looked back since.
During his new activities, Clarke met 17-year-old James Willers, a Randberg teen who was burned by boiling water when he was 2 years old and had to have his right leg amputated. He later developed meningitis and lost his hearing.
Willers is also an avid swimmer who has won numerous medals.
His perseverance moved Clarke, who solidified his latest mission by launching a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign.
He hopes to raise R200 000 to buy a high-quality prosthetic leg and prosthetic liners for Willers.
Clarke also hopes to relieve Willers’ adoptive parents’ financial burden and provide the vibrant adolescent with the opportunity to live the fulfilling life he deserves.
Clarke will take on an extreme aquabike challenge in South Africa this October, cycling solo from Johannesburg to Cape Town (1 520km) in eight days, covering approximately 200km per day. Following a 24-hour recovery period, he will swim 7.5km from Robben Island to Big Bay.
‘This will be done to not only bring about disability awareness and showcase how differently-abled individuals can achieve exceptional feats but also to raise money for a very special individual,’ explained Clarke.
Clarke’s challenge will begin on 6 October 2023, and he has already received support and raised over R17 000 thanks to 45 donors.
Speaking of Willers’ character, Clarke said that ‘James embodies the type of individual we should all strive to be.’
He said:
‘He has a wealth of knowledge and experience that we can all learn from, such as perseverance, resilience, adaptability and flexibility. Firstly, living with his disability can be challenging at times; however, he has shown incredible perseverance and resilience in the face of adversity. He has constantly adapted to his environment to overcome obstacles. He has shown incredible flexibility and highlighted the importance of finding new and innovative solutions to his challenges.’
Willers, according to Clarke, taught him to appreciate the diversity and richness of human experience, that a physical disability is only one aspect of a person’s identity, and that every individual has the ability to make meaningful contributions to this world.
Support Sean Clarke’s mission to get James a prosthetic leg by donating via the following channels:
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Picture: @gammie_on_the_go / Instagram