Paraplegics’ Wet Trek

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32253, 23 March 1970, Page 18

Paraplegics’ Wet Trek

In spite of rain and cold, 15 paraplegics trekked three miles in their wheelchairs on Saturday afternoon to raise $6OO towards a proposed paraplegics hostel at Burwood Hospital. Another $BOO for the project was raised by a market fair held at New Brighton during the day by members of the New Brighton Lions Club and their wives.

“Most people think paraplegics are invalids, but the trek proved this was not so/’ the president of the Canterbury Paraplegic Association (Mr W. E. Lapslie), said last evening.

“They were so enthusiastic about the trek that already they are asking if it can be made an annual event over double the distance, and we’re looking into this idea,” he said.

The trek along Pages Road and Seaview Road to New Brighton was expected to take about three hours but the paraplegics completed the journey in about an hour and a half, Mr Lapslie said. Sponsorships for the trek were arranged by the paraplegics themselves. Rain affected attendance at the fair a little, but not as much as expected, the president of the New Brighton Lions Club (Mr R. J. Glassey) said last evening. The fair had been the biggest organised by the club and all were pleased that it had been such a success.