Meet Dan Lombard. It is a name you hopefully will get to
know in the future. Not only because of what he does, but because of his
dedication, passion and the inspiration he brings with him. Every now and then,
something happens that changes your entire future, and in Dan’s case, it was
his entire life.
Dan is inspirational despite the fact that he is completely
immobile, yet manages to write articles using his iPad, typing with his tongue.
As a last resort he took a chance with a local radio station, to help him reach
his dream of becoming a successful rugby journalist.
Let me quote some of his email to you, this was his final plea.
"I'm a
C4/5 quadriplegic living in Pretoria. I injured myself on the rugby pitch
during a practice where I broke my neck. I was 18 and in Grade 12 (Pretoria
Boys) at the time.
I'm now 25 and finished my Honours in Journalism at the University of Pretoria in 2014 thanks to a bursary from the Department of Labour. I'm now trying to make a name for myself in sports journalism covering mainly rugby. I freelance for BLOU (Bulls eMag, Game On eMag, Varsity Cup: Tuks media, SuperSport: Vodacom Cup).
Rugby took so much away from me but in some indescribable way it has made me more passionate about the game. I would like to go into communications at one of the big unions one day.
I come from a big family and my disability is a huge expense for my Dad. I would like to make his life a bit easier and try get a suitable vehicle with a ramp/lift through fundraising or a donation. We are tired of being turned away and asking for handouts, but I thought I would try one last time."
I'm now 25 and finished my Honours in Journalism at the University of Pretoria in 2014 thanks to a bursary from the Department of Labour. I'm now trying to make a name for myself in sports journalism covering mainly rugby. I freelance for BLOU (Bulls eMag, Game On eMag, Varsity Cup: Tuks media, SuperSport: Vodacom Cup).
Rugby took so much away from me but in some indescribable way it has made me more passionate about the game. I would like to go into communications at one of the big unions one day.
I don't have any form of transportation so I have to constantly juggle
my acceptance of work and invites based on the availability of what I can
arrange through friends. I want to make a success out of my life.
I come from a big family and my disability is a huge expense for my Dad. I would like to make his life a bit easier and try get a suitable vehicle with a ramp/lift through fundraising or a donation. We are tired of being turned away and asking for handouts, but I thought I would try one last time."
There was one problem though, due to his situation, he could
not get to where he wanted to be in life. All he needed was transportation. A
means of getting somewhere, to pursue his love, to attend invitations, to
inspire others like him.
The radio station’s breakfast show team answered, and set
out to see how they can help Dan. Long story short, Hartoch Streicher and his
team at action Ford Krugersdorp decided to sponsor him a Ford Transit for three
months, a couple of listeners the decided they wanted to contribute, and one anonymous person, donated
enough to buy the vehicle. Dan now has a car, and was treated by Rikus Gouws
from Scania financial services to a day at the rugby, all while his van was
being finished off.
This then is a simple example of what a car can do; Inspire
even more, help even more, achieve even more, it can make you reach your dream, it will enable you to fly.
JOC: How
did your life change when you heard you are getting the Ford Transit Van?
DL: We had
a converted Vito which was an Avis car, and you know how people drive Avis
cars, it was constantly breaking and we had to get rid of it eventually, I was
in hospital for three months, where I was not allowed to sit, and that made
things a lot worse with normal cars. When I decided to write to this radio
station, my dad and I were negative about it, and we didn’t expect to be so
lucky. Because of this I’ve gotten some exposure, and was invited to the book
launch of Creative Rugby by Naas Botha and Dr Neethling.
JOC: What
modifications were needed for you to be able to use the car?
DL: It was simple
modifications, we got a manual ramp for me to get in that bolts to the back,
the electric ramp is very draining on the car, and caused a lot of problems, especially
on the Vito, the ramp is smaller as well, because my wheelchair is smaller than
the old one I’ve used. The transit also kept most of its seats because of the
smaller wheelchair. Seatbelts were fitted on the floor for me. I still have a
few issues with the ramp because it is still steep, and I need help getting
into the car. I am looking around for shops to help me with this, but I cannot
complain as the whole modification was done in two days.
JOC: How
do you stay inspired?
DL: This is tough to explain. My love for rugby, but ultimately it’s a choice.
When I came off the morphine in hospital, I just told myself I am not dead, so
I have to live. The problem with people is that you don’t know how to deal with
it until you are in that situation. I still have my off days like everybody
else. Because of this radio station I had job offers from radio Pulpit with a
rugby show. I also try to help people like me by trying to make disability
relevant. Ja, you just have to carry on. I do what everyone else does, except I
am sitting down while doing it.
JOC: What is your advice
to people with a passion and a dream?
DL: You only have one life, and I don’t want to be stuck
doing something I don’t like. Work hard. Writing to me is not a job, it’s not
work, it’s fun. Follow your dream, no one is forcing you to do something you
don’t want to do, and you always have a choice. When I die I will be happy,
because I can say everything is done, there’s nothing left to do. My motto is accept, adapt, thrive (#acceptadaptthrive), and it helped.
JOC: Most memorable motoring
moment?
DL: I
would say when I was in Dubai when Rob Hugo a family friend who supported us
took us for a drive in the desert with a small jeep wrangler, a close second is
feeling what a Ferrari can do in the hands of an experienced driver, taking
corners at 180.
JOC: Your life is has
been full of challenges, how did you overcome them?
DL: As I said, the choice lies with you. You can take the
horse to the water but you can’t make him drink. I realised the problems we
have is our own, so I chose to be successful. I studied Phycology, but gave up
because I was comparing everybody’s problems with my own. I never planned to be
journalist, it just happened, and I can’t ask for anything better. While trying
the psychological route I felt people have some problems opening up as well,
feeling insecure because I am in a wheelchair.
JOC: With
this van the opportunity for epic road trips exist, where would you like to go?
DL: Durban, I have family there which
I didn’t see in a while, I want to visit friends in Newcastle, I want to go to
the rugby in Cape Town in December. I have been in Pretoria now for 10 years,
and I got to see it from a different angle. I want to take a trip to Namibia
and Botswana, to see a bit of Africa. I want to help other quadriplegics who
had the same problem as I did. I meet a lot of them and I want to help.
I am not a millionaire or have tons of money, but I can help them with
approval, advise and support.
JOC: How
is life in a wheelchair?
DL: I call it a Bullshit meter.
I lost a lot of friends, when I meet people I can see who are real friends.
Real friends stay, relationships are also difficult, on my blog, one of the
most hits is a post about sex in a wheelchair, with over 20 thousand views. My
dad is very supportive, he is not my biological father, but he was looking
after me when I was two years old, he changed my surname and has supported me
all my life. It’s not cheap being a quad, the monthly expenses, and I am not
talking about groceries and that stuff is 20,000 per month. I have a big
family, the youngest of which is 9 years old. Just last night my brother talked
to me till 5am this morning about life, goals and aspirations.
JOC: Any
one in particular you would like to mention or thank?
DL: No, I can’t thank anyone in particular, and I think
they help because they can see I am doing something, and not just sitting.
There are a lot of anonymous donors, the Pretoria Boys High School, the boys club, it's former head master, Principal Bill Schroder, who fought the dept. of education for me, friends,
family. There are so many I cannot name them all, Those who gave me an
opportunity, the online magazines I freelance for, all people towards who
helped with the car, Scania financial services who hosted me at the Springbok
VS All Black game, The people who did the modifications, everybody who has been
there since day 1, the anonymous person who gave the money for the car.
JOC: Tell us a bit more
about rugby in a wheelchair?
DL: It’s
chosen name are a mouthful, but I call it RFAW, it’s got opinion pieces on
rugby, although I do not focus on that anymore. I don’t get any money from it
and its very time consuming. It’s not just about rugby, it’s also about life as
a quad and other articles.
JOC: What are your plans
for the future?
DL: I do not have a timeline,
but I want to be the key communications officer for rugby, I would like to work
with a specific team. What I am doing now is just a means to an end. I would
like a permanent job, cut down on the freelance stuff. I want to have kids and
be successful and not just slave away my existence, I want to retire comfortably.
JOC: A final word to the idiots out there who use the handicapped parking?
DL: You need to understand that
this parking spot Is bigger for a reason. Our lives are difficult enough as it
is, why can’t we have this to make it a bit easier. When we stop there I do not
want to wait 5 minutes because the person is too lazy to walk an extra few
meters. It is not meant for the elderly or those with crutches, that is why
there is a wheelchair painted there, it is for wheelchair users. I find some
people become antagonistic when I confront them. I think we just need to
respect each other and get the facts right.
0 comments:
Post a Comment