A whole new world opened up for eight-year-old Cale Jenkins last weekend.
Cale, who turns nine-years-old this week, has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair.
His parents, Bob and Janine Jenkins needed to raise $80,000 to buy a new van, a Kia Carnival which would be large enough to install a ramp accommodate his wheelchair.
Until now, they had to lift him in and out of his wheelchair to go anywhere in the family car, a Nissan Elgrand but as he was growing up this was becoming increasingly difficult for them to do, particularly for his mum, Janine.
Cale is very social and likes doing the ordinary things that other kid do like going to the park and to sports such as wheelchair basketball.
But rather than curtailing his activities, they decided to start a crowdfunding page to buy the new van.
The family took delivery of their new Kia Carnival on Friday, March 2 and since then the family has had a full week of activities.
After they raised the money, the NDIS helped with the cost of converting the Kia Carnival to be wheelchair accessible.
“Exciting news, we picked up Cale’s new wheelchair accessible car on Friday (March 2),” Jane said.
“What a huge difference this makes, helping Cale get out and about more easily in the community.
“Cale and our family would like to thank everyone who helped us help him get out and about,” Janine said.
“We want to thank everyone who supported our fundraiser for Cale’s wheelchair accessible car.
“This includes the local businesses who generously donated including Sutherland Shire Toy Restoration, Engadine Rotary and Engadine Bowling Club, Tynans Motors Sutherland helped us out with a very good price for our new Kia Carnival, and to everyone in our local community who read our story in the Leader and generously donated.
“We were very excited to pick up the car last Friday after having it converted by Freedom Motors Australia.
“The new car allows Cale to travel in his wheelchair with no more being lifted in and out of the car.
“He loves his new independence and is super excited about the fun adventures he is going to go on in his new wheelchair accessible car.
“Since we got the car we took him and his six-year-old sister Sian to the Walk to Walls Festival at Caringbah and we drove down to the South Coast to see friends.
“This has made things so much easier for all of us. We can just jump in the car and get out there and go.”
