Dan Lombard - An Inspirational man on a mission to success

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 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.

Dan has been kind enough to allow some time for a telephonic interview to answer couple of questions.

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.