Sean Clarke has set an ambitious goal to cycle from Joburg to Cape Town and then do the Robben Island Swim all while raising funds so his young friend James can get a prosthetic leg.
South Africa (04 April 2023) – Sean Clarke named his left leg “Gammie” after he severed the nerve at the back of his knee at the age of seven and the damage left him paralysed from the knee down. Sean has never let his damaged leg get in the way of his dreams. He plans to cycle to Cape Town as his net big challenge.
Through his sporting endeavours, Sean met 16-year-old James who needs a new prosthetic leg. Sean has committed to raising the funds for James Thusi by cycling from Joburg to Cape Town and then swimming from Robben Island to Big Bay.
Sean’s accident took place 21 years ago and it changed his life. He has been blessed to see his accident not as a negative, but as a shift in his life’s focus.
“I have been blessed with a natural enthusiasm and zest for life that helps me to stay engaged and motivated. These qualities, along with a positive attitude have helped me to navigate through life with grace and resilience.
I believe that this perspective on life was brought about by my accident in June 2002. I jumped off a roof and kicked my leg into a pane of glass which severed the back of my knee. Due to the laceration of main nerves and arteries, I was left with advanced foot drop, no feeling and paralysis from the knee down. As a result of this, I have been classified as disabled.
Once released from hospital, I realized that my life would be full of unique challenges and that this accident would define my life. I knew I had to focus my mindset on one of believing that I could achieve anything, regardless of my abilities or circumstances.”
Sean pushed himself to do the Comrades in August 2022. He has loved running but after the marathon, his doctors brought a swift end to his love of the sport. His hip and knee were taking strain. Not one to step back from a challenge, Sean found a way to work around the running and started swimming and cycling instead.
“I am establishing an extreme aquabike/biathlon challenge in South Africa whereby I will be cycling from Johannesburg to Cape Town (1520km) in 8 consecutive days. After a 24-hour recovery, I will then swim from Robben Island to Big Bay which is 7.5km as the crow flies. 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.”
Sean shares the story of James, a young man he has met during his awareness challenges and he has set his heart on making a huge difference in James’ life. Sean shares James’ story, in his own words below.
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James, a 16-year-old boy who, due to neglect and severe burns, lost his right leg. Subsequently, he contracted meningitis which resulted in the complete loss of his hearing. James’ adoptive parents have scraped money together for years in an attempt to obtain prosthetics. Usually, the prosthetic that James uses is made of secondhand components and is not considered a high-grade device.
James embodies the type of individual we should all strive to be. 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. He has taught me to appreciate the diversity and richness of human experience and that a physical disability is just one aspect of a persons identity and that every individual has the ability to make meaningful contributions to this world.
To ensure a greater quality of life for James, I want to raise enough funds to provide him with a top of the range prosthetic that will afford him the ability to lead an active and fulfilling life, ensuring that his disability is not a barrier to his own successes.
I have set up this BackaBuddy account to make this a reality. The money raised will not only go toward a prosthetic for James, but also toward prosthetic liners that cost a couple thousand rand each and lasts less than a year. I’m hoping that the reasons I am doing this resonates with the public and that we can all join hands to make a difference in this young man’s life.”
Sean is sharing his journey on social media in the hopes of raising the money needed for James. He has set his challenge for October 2023 and will update followers and donors as he trains for the big event.
Take a look at Sean’s video below, where he explains in detail what he hopes to accomplish with this challenge.
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You can support Sean and James by donating to the crowdfund here. The funds are being used to cover the cost of a high-grade prosthetic leg that will carry James far in life.
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