Rocanville School's planned wheelchair swing is one step closer to reality with a donation of $8,235 from Borderland Co-op.
With the local support Borderland Co-op has received, they wanted to pay it forward by donating to a local cause.
The donation was a result of Nutrien purchasing a considerable quantity of gift cards for their staff to use at Borderland Co-op locations which in turn allowed Borderland Co-op to make a donation to Rocanville School.
Rocanville School student Sofia Laidlaw is a wheelchair user and the school staff wanted to make sure she would be able to participate in playground activities as she grows older.
鈥淚t鈥檚 actually a two-year project in the making,鈥� said Rocanville Principal Nathan Bromm. 鈥淲e have a swing for her right now, but she鈥檚 just outgrown it and for the safety of her and teachers and EA鈥檚 we needed something bigger. We started investigating it and CNIB recommended an appropriate swing.
鈥淭his one will have seating for her and her wheelchair and it has a ramp so she can just be rolled onto it and she won鈥檛 have to leave her chair. It also has two seats on the side so that friends can sit with her and it鈥檚 more inclusive that way. When we saw there was those kinds of options out there we thought it would be a good opportunity for her. Plus with the playground, nothing is really wheelchair accessible other than a ramp platform鈥攚e did have that when we built the new playground a couple of years ago to ensure she had something.
鈥淭he main reason is for Sofia right now, but we have other intensive needs students that will benefit. It was more about what can we get for Sofia that gives her an opportunity on the playground to play with her friends, as well as, not have staff lifting her and being worried about injury to them or her. So that鈥檚 where the idea came from.鈥�
Receiving such a large donation from Borderland Co-op has accelerated Rocanville School鈥檚 swing project with the funds accounting for over half of what the school needs and they鈥檙e optimistic local donations will cover the rest.
鈥淚t鈥檚 huge because the swing are incredibly expensive鈥攖hey鈥檙e about $12,000,鈥� Bromm said.
鈥淭o get a donation like that really helps. We鈥檙e doing a little fundraiser with the town where the town is matching personal donations as well and giving tax receipts. So we still hope to see donations coming in, but with this donation it basically allows us to order it and hopefully we get enough to fill in the rest. This is good for the community.鈥�
