Electric cars for disabled kids

Christchurch BMW played host to the latest Gobabygo handover event, which sees disabled children become mobile after they’re given small electric cars.

Garden City and Riccarton Rotary branches paid for the cost of the cars, and supplied volunteers for the handover at the dealership in Manchester St.

Gobabygo board member Bruce Jackson says three cars were handed over on the day, including one for six-year-old Laszlo Walker.

“Cerebral Palsy means he can’t walk by himself, but he was a picture, and will be driving himself the moment he’s more confident, though he doesn’t like reverse at this stage!”

Meantime his mum or dad can use the car’s remote to operate the throttle and steering to help get him going.

Young Izack Lidget (18 months) is more profoundly disabled, and Gobabygo had initially supplied a car prepped to take his Shuttle Discovery wheelchair seat.

But the team soon realised he will be able to use the standard seatback adaptation and support, so after giving him a go in another car they had on hand, they sent the measurements to the Auckland-based adaptation crew to adapt and send a new Gobabygo car.

The Gobabygo BMW originally earmarked for Izack will go to the next child who uses a Shuttle Discovery seat.

Jackson thanked the staff of Christchurch BMW, who cleared a space in the showroom, and proved very helpful on the day.

Gobabygo chief executive Gilli Sinclair says thanks to generous supporters and donors, including Rotary, the organisation has been able to import another container of cars, ready to adapt.

“All we need now is the kids!”

Jackson says Rotary branches throughout the South Island are contacting child disability networks, and encouraged anyone who knows a child aged 18 months to around seven years, who might benefit, to get in touch via the charity’s website, gobabygo.org.nz

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Izack Lidget loves the engine noises, and will learn to take over control from parents holding the remote