"Shoebox Campaign" - "Children in Distress"
Little things mean alot!
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08/12/2011 - 10:00
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13/12/2010 - 11:00
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07/12/2011 - 18:00
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03/09/2011 (All day)
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06/04/2012 - 12:00
It's almost impossible for a person with disabilities that lives in Bucharest to do the most basic tasks.
The first problem he encounters is the elevator. His wheelchair doesn't fit in.
He needs to get out of the building but there are a few steps that stand in his way.
The next problem, is the curb. Someone decided the perfect place to park, is in front of the "lowered" curb.
He needs to climb back on the sidewalk but there's another car blocking his path. So he needs to look for a curb while being on the road.
He arrives to the local grocery store, but there's another step in his way.
He buys a bread and heads home, more tired than he's ever been.
The first problem he encounters is the elevator. His wheelchair doesn't fit in.
He needs to get out of the building but there are a few steps that stand in his way.
The next problem, is the curb. Someone decided the perfect place to park, is in front of the "lowered" curb.
He needs to climb back on the sidewalk but there's another car blocking his path. So he needs to look for a curb while being on the road.
He arrives to the local grocery store, but there's another step in his way.
He buys a bread and heads home, more tired than he's ever been.
It's the real deal. People have to deal with these things every day. Unfortunately, he needs the help of a relative or an assistant. So we are amazed when we see someone that doesn't have a helper.
No matter where he needs to go, grocery store, mail office or a public institution, he will be able to arrive at the destination because there's a step in his way.
This event's purpose is to create awareness for these people and the fact that they can't do the most basic activities that normal people take for granted.
No matter where he needs to go, grocery store, mail office or a public institution, he will be able to arrive at the destination because there's a step in his way.
This event's purpose is to create awareness for these people and the fact that they can't do the most basic activities that normal people take for granted.
A lot of things happened in my life, but I'm an optimist. So rather than thinking what thinking of what was, I'd rather think of what the future holds.
Unfortunately, I'm still amazed when I see these people, alone on the streets of Bucharest.
But I saw a young man with disabilities on a regular scooter that had two bicycle wheels attached to keep him straight. And I was still shocked.
I had the opportunity to meet a few people that helped me a lot. Now I am able to pedal to a store if I need to but something, but I can't go in with the trike.
Wherever I go, everyone talks about the trike. But no one understands that I'm only struggling to survive in this city.
I still have the hope that, at one point in my life, I'll be able to do the simple things, like normal people. But I'll still be thinking of the people that leave their home, because the wheelchair doesn't fit in the elevator.
Everything was normal until March 2004.
It all started with flu-like symptoms: fever, a rash and coughing. After a few days of treatment without any success, I got hospitalised and a new symptom appeared: two swollen joints.
Over the next 6 weeks they ran a whole lot of tests, tried different treatments, but nothing worked. We took the decision to move to another hospital so I got discharged without a clear diagnosis.
At the second hospital things went relatively well, but my condition was slowly declining. By December 2004 I was so weak, I couldn't do much and in January 2005, I couldn't even leave my room.
I was bedridden until April 2008. Those years were hard but I somehow managed to get passed them and started to focus on the future.
The problem was the fact that I stood immobilised because of the pain I was in. That caused calluses to form in the joints, most importantly in the knee joints. Basically my leg couldn't go past the 90 degree angle.
Over the next 6 weeks they ran a whole lot of tests, tried different treatments, but nothing worked. We took the decision to move to another hospital so I got discharged without a clear diagnosis.
At the second hospital things went relatively well, but my condition was slowly declining. By December 2004 I was so weak, I couldn't do much and in January 2005, I couldn't even leave my room.
I was bedridden until April 2008. Those years were hard but I somehow managed to get passed them and started to focus on the future.
The problem was the fact that I stood immobilised because of the pain I was in. That caused calluses to form in the joints, most importantly in the knee joints. Basically my leg couldn't go past the 90 degree angle.
Over the next months things were OK but no physical progress. In August 2009 we found Claudiu Constantin at "Children in distress" and were very happy. We saw that he had a vision of recovery completely different of what we saw and heard up to that point. Things went better and better from then on.
In the summer of 2010 I remembered a news story about a man that rode a recumbent trike from Austria to Romania. And I started searching the internet for companies that produce these trikes. At one point I discovered Hase Bikes in Germany and saw they build a special trike for recovery purposes.
Then -as a joke- I posted on Twitter the fact that, the trike could help but it's too expensive.
Then -as a joke- I posted on Twitter the fact that, the trike could help but it's too expensive.
A friend then told a young lady (with fund raising experience) about my need and that's when it all started. We started making plans for a campaign that could help us raise the money.
After less than 2 months since it all started, we finished raising the money: 2300 Euros. I was so excited, I contacted the closest dealer that was located in Budapest and ordered the trike. 3 weeks later, the trike was at the dealership and I was so excited, I wanted us to drive all the way there to get it.
And we did. I was so happy when i sat in it and saw I could actually use it and didn't have any problems with it.
Slowly, I started riding more and more, until I achieved my current record: 17 miles.
After less than 2 months since it all started, we finished raising the money: 2300 Euros. I was so excited, I contacted the closest dealer that was located in Budapest and ordered the trike. 3 weeks later, the trike was at the dealership and I was so excited, I wanted us to drive all the way there to get it.
And we did. I was so happy when i sat in it and saw I could actually use it and didn't have any problems with it.
Slowly, I started riding more and more, until I achieved my current record: 17 miles.
Now things are going better and better, and I'm really excited about what the future holds.
03/09/2011 (All day)
