Little Eden Society Ceo Wheelchair Campaign Set To Roll For The Sixth Year

Xelda Rohrbeck and South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) representative with resident of Little Eden
March is a month dedicated to Intellectual Disability Awareness in South Africa. Little Eden Society launched its fifth annual CEO Wheelchair Campaign on March 1. Compassionate chief executives and directors of some of the country`s most prominent companies are joining forces with Little Eden Society to put a spotlight on mobility challenges experienced by individuals with physical and those with intense intellectual disability through their 6th annual Little Eden CEO Wheelchair Campaign™.
Little Eden Society challenges chief executives of companies to spend a day at work in a wheelchair to spread awareness about disability, and to help in raising much-needed funds to contribute towards the cost of caring for 300 children and adults with profound intellectual disability at Little Eden Society. Out of the 300 Little Eden residents, the overwhelming majority rely on wheelchairs for all their mobility needs.

Murray Carter, National Sales Director for BSH Home Appliances
The society’s CEO, Xelda Rohrbeck, said the society looks after the most marginalised members of society, some of whom come from indigent families. “Through this campaign, we can provide the best care to our residents and create awareness of the challenges faced by those with physical and intellectual disabilities.”
She said that there were several aspects of the campaign that would be done differently for this year`s campaign. These include:
– The involvement of Little Eden Society residents at the launch of the 2023 Wheelchair Campaign, and more staff participation through a race and obstacle course challenge. This will extend the campaign beyond herself as the CEO sitting in the chair for the day.

Little Eden CEO Xelda Rohrbeck
– Companies have been encouraged to combine the campaign with an in-house volunteering opportunity at Little Eden Society and a further awareness of the needs of Little Eden Society.
– The continued collaboration with the South African Federation for Mental Health (SAFMH) to specifically focus on awareness around the connection between Intellectual and physical disability.
There are numerous drives to raise funds for wheelchairs for charitable organisations, and these are then distributed to various organisations.
However, the society`s wheelchair campaign is the first of its type in SA, and in the world.
“The LITTLE EDEN CEO Wheelchair campaign ®, which has been registered as a Trademark, is unique in that beyond allowing a CEO to experience a day in the life of an individual with a disability, the experience offers the CEO the opportunity to think outside the box, in terms of how accessible their corporate office is to individuals who rely on a mobility device. It can be either for work opportunities or customers.

Chief executive of Discovery, Adrian Gore
This campaign goes beyond the day in the wheelchair as we all become advocates for the rights of people with various disabilities and creating awareness around a very import topic which is often not always spoken about openly,” Rohrbeck stated.
Some of the partnering influential companies that have supported the campaign since its inception in 2018 include Discovery Limited – Arian Gore, Multotec (PTY) LTD – Rhodes Nelson (each year a member of the Executive team is selected to spend their workday in the chair., EOH Consulting – Stephen van Koller, Barloworld Equipment executive and Mix Telematics.
The impact of the campaign has been significant and has earned attention from other socially conscious companies, which subsequently took a decision to make their mark by joining the campaign at different times during its six years of running. Some of these companies include OUTsurance, EOH, Sanlam Foundation, Kaya FM, Flender, Driv, SBM Energy, Fundi Capital, Oberon Pharma, Mei Construction services and S Guiricich Holdings.
Sandra Khumalo, the Little Eden CEO wheelchair campaign ambassador, is a Paralympic boat-rower who lives the wheelchair experience, and sees herself as a role model for other wheelchair users. “It is my wish for more chief executives to support this campaign, because they are in a position to influence disability rights in their organisations, not only around access for wheelchair users in the workplace, but also begin to influence how Corporate Social Investment (CSI) allocates funding, particularly towards the most vulnerable groups such as people with profound intellectual disability.”
Join other South African brands and advocate for inclusivity by signing up for the sixth annual LITTLE EDEN CEO Wheelchair Campaign™ now.
Here’s how:
– Visit the website: www.littleeden.org.za
– Fill in and submit the Little Eden CEO Wheelchair Campaign™ registration form or contact to assist with registering.
– An invoice will be sent to you from Little Eden Society to process a donation of R50 000 for big companies and R30 000 for smaller companies.
– Choose any suitable workday during March to participate.
– Take a video or pictures and write about your “Day in a Wheelchair” experience and send it to and it will be published on various print media, social media platforms and on the Little Eden website.
– Challenge other chief executives in your field to do the same.
Your company will receive an 18A Tax Certificate which may be used to reclaim tax from Sars, as well as valuable BBBEE points. Plus, you’ll be part of something greater — helping to provide love and care for the most vulnerable members of society. No less than 70.7% of the 300 residents at the home have been abandoned and some come from indigent families who are unable to support them financially. Your participation literally helps to change lives.
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