I've decided to Blog again! My obsessive-compulsive traits never really liked the look of my Blog. Maybe it was the fact that I felt technologically challenged trying to upload the video of me driving for the 20th time (which, by the way, never uploaded, so you'll have to check it out on my Facebook group!). Anyway, an email arrived in my inbox today (as they usually do!) telling me of the new available templates... it re-ignited the Blogger in me!
A lot has happened over the past few months - to date, I have raised over R175 000 for my car! While many thought I'd already be doing wheel spins in my new car, I think this is a pretty great start! It is incredible to think that almost every cent was donated (in some way or another) through people who know me - whether it was friends or family, the boss of someone who went to school with me, someone in the audience when I did a talk - it was all through word of mouth and a GREAT help from a friend starting a Facebook Group. Thanks, Mel! I am proof that social media works!
Throughout this process, I have learnt a lot about myself. I'm reminded about how hard it is for me to ask for help - my whole life I've focused on how to be independent and do things for myself, whether it's carrying my own school bag, writing my own notes, getting dressed in the morning, or driving my car! I knew that if I wanted to stay mobile and independent and get a relacement vehicle (no matter how long it takes) I would need to ask for help - the costs are just beyond my means. It has been tough as there are times when I think to myself that there are bigger problems out there than getting a REPLACEMENT car - hell, some people don't even own a car! Then I remind myself of what I tell my clients - we each have our own experience and we must be careful not to minimise our situations. We will always find someone worse off than ourselves and that does not mean to say our own situation is not worth fighting for.
I am reminded of the day I got my driver's licence in April 2002. I remember driving away from the Stellenbosch traffic department, on my own in my car for the very first time. I drove past the Psychology Department where my fellow Master's students were hard at work and I hooted with glee! It sounds cliched, but I felt so free!
Throughout this fundraising project, I've wanted to do more than just raise funds for my own car. I've wanted to help others with disabilities to experience the independence and absolute freedom that driving my own adapted car gave to me! So many people advised me to focus on my own fundraising first and then look at setting up a Trust to help others. This made sense, but the more I get involved in this project, the more I realise that there is so much more potential! I had an incredibly inspiring meeting with the founders of The Chaeli Campaign (project supporting children with disabilities) and this solidified my need to set up "Nicky's Drive" to benefit more than just me.
How motivating will it be to help other people have cars adapted while I still continue to raise funds for my own car!
So, now I am on a mission....ok, I've always been on a mission.. but now I'm on a MAJOR mission to register "Nicky's Drive" as a non-profit organisation! I have my start-up management committee and we are doing lots of research to get the NPO launched in the next few months. Very exciting! Somewhere in between I will have time for my day-job :)
So look out for updates - I promise to keep blogging! Celebrity drives to create awareness of the project are going full-force as well as me doing public/motivational talks.
As Nicky's Drive slogan reads: INSPIRE... ENABLE... MOTIVATE
