To cross the finish line of the Cape Town Cycle Tour is no easy feat, but for one little boy, this cycle means more than the medal around his neck.
For his 10th birthday, Majdi Gallie with the help of the Warrior on Wheels (WOW) foundation, created awareness around cerebral palsy when he competed in the 42km race on Sunday 12 March.
His mother, Mufieda says while they were nervous to send him on his way for such a long journey, this is not his first rodeo.
“Before Covid-19, he did a few Junior cycle tours around the Cape Town stadium. This year being his 10th birthday and also raising awareness for world cerebral palsy awareness month in March, Majdi did the very first historical 42 km cycle tour for 2023,” she says.
“As a parent, my heart was out of my chest, letting go of my son, going without me for a few hours to ride a 42 km distance. It’s nerve-wracking, scary and a bit emotional. But, I firmly put my trust in the Almighty. We also took the necessary precautions, strapped him up, made him comfortable, attached all his favourite technology devices and took a deep breath, and sent him off with lots of duahs in the protection of the Almighty.”
Mufieda was all set to take on the race as a mother and son duo, but owing to health issues, she was unable to join her son on the route. This is where Etienne Wilsnagh and support rider Ridewaan Amerika stepped in to make the race possible.
Majdi is differently abled, owing to an injury to his brain at birth.
“He stopped breathing after birth and took some damage to the left side of his brain, which affected all four of his limbs, leaving him quadriplegic. He was diagnosed at an early age of three months old, being quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy. Majdi is, however, verbal and is able to respond to us,” she says.
“March is world cerebral palsy awareness month and with that said, as a parent I encourage and call out to other parents with differently-abled kids to come out and experience the amazing joy, laughter, smiles and happiness we get to see on our kids’ faces.”
Mufieda says they have been with Warrior on Wheels Foundation for the past five years.
“I found them on the internet and went to an outdoor event, met the founder Deidre’ and her differently-abled Son Damian. Loved what they had started and offered and rsvp’d for a few get-togethers that was best suited for our family,” she says.
