A group of friends are riding to the Roof of Africa Hard Enduro on delivery scooters in the hopes of raising funds to get their fellow rider, Andrew, a new leg.
Johannesburg, South Africa (26 October 2022) – Father of two and husband Andrew Jansen van Vuuren lost his leg in January after a harrowing accident. Unable to afford a professionally made prosthetic leg, Andrew – a boilermaker by trade, fashioned himself a substitute until the family could cover the cost of a prosthetic. Now his friends are raising the funds to be able to help him live a full life again.
While his innovative leg is sufficient to live day-to-day, it isn’t the perfect fit and this causes pain at the stump as well as his other joints that are carrying the extra weight. Ideally, a professionally fitted leg would help but the family cannot afford it.
Andrew’s friends had planned to head up to the Roof of Africa Hard Enduro race in Lesotho, so they decided to use the trip to push themselves, and raise funds to get Andrew a prosthetic. Inspired by his giving nature, this was how they planned to give back.
The guys decided to use delivery scooters as their means of transport from Johannesburg to Lesotho. They have called the challenge the “Roof Scoot“.
“In November, a bunch of okes who love riding motorbikes are making their way from Johannesburg to Lesotho, to the Roof of Africa hard enduro race, and wait for it… on delivery bikes. They’ve taken the opportunity to turn their adventure into something meaningful.
They will endeavour to take their plea across the country on their travels to raise funds towards getting Andrew his well-deserved prosthetic leg – they would be completely stoked if you guys out there could donate something too!”
Oak Orthotics & Prosthetics in Benoni joined the excitement and gave Andrew his first consultation free of charge, giving the family one less thing to worry about. They now have a better idea of what is needed to take the next step.
The Roof Scoot team are hoping to raise R200,000 towards the leg. Andrew is currently the main breadwinner at home; this is due to the pandemic causing his wife Maria to become retrenched. While he works in the week as a boilermaker, the couple runs a tuck shop at their local motocross track over the weekends to earn an additional income.
Andrew and Maria use their tuck shop to do good for others. Any leftover food is donated to local charities and they have taken a homeless man in need off the streets, giving him a job and a roof over his head. It is this generosity that has inspired everything since.
The helping hand from the Roof Scoot team will go a long way in making his days more comfortable.
“We are truly inspired by Andrew’s amazingly positive attitude to life, his remarkable will to succeed, his endless kindness to others and his selfless acts. He has never let his situation get him down and always makes the best of every situation.”
If you would like to support Andrew and his Roof Scoot friends, you can find the crowdfund via BackaBuddy here.
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