Tracy Hanna is no stranger to ensuring people living with a disability are not left out and her push to secure a liberty swing for Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden is no different.
Ms Hanna is embarking on a project to install a liberty swing, playground equipment specially designed to allow people who use a kwheelchair to experience the common childhood pursuit.
Challenge Community Services have provided a $2,000 donation to kick-start her fundraising efforts and Ms Hanna is enlisting the support of the Dubbo community to ensure the liberty swing project gets off the ground.
As the owner of ‘Zumba with Tracy’ and ‘All Abilities Danz’, Ms Hanna runs a free dance class for those in the community that have special exercise needs, including Challenge Disability Services participants.
Ms Hanna hopes to raise $20,000 to add to the $15,000 commitment she was able to secure from Dubbo Regional Council. Challenge Community Services CEO Barry Murphy lauded Ms Hanna’s efforts, saying the project was important for the Dubbo community.
“Challenge Community Services sees itself as part of the Dubbo community,” Mr Murphy said.
“The liberty swing fundraiser is very much a community project, so it seems just natural that Challenge would contribute to this great project for people with disabilities.”
Challenge has taken part in similar projects, including providing funding support for a liberty swing in Tamworth. According to Mr Murphy, the liberty swing provides children who use a wheelchair an opportunity to take part in an activity many of us take for granted.
“To be able to provide the opportunity for people who are wheelchair-bound to enjoy the excitement of something as simple as a swing in the park is a project we are most pleased to be associated with,” he said.
“One of the most important things for people with a disability is to have a feeling of inclusion.
“People with disabilities in Dubbo will shortly have the opportunity to experience the joy of a ride that most of us take for granted. The completion of this project and the installation of a liberty swing will clearly show that the citizens of Dubbo really care for some of its most vulnerable people.”
Ms Hanna will be organising a Black Tie Bingo fundraising event at the Dubbo RSL in July to add to the tally. For more information on the liberty swing project please call Tracy on 0416 010 748. For more information on Challenge Community Services please email NDIS@challengecommunity.org.au or call 1800 679 129.
Article from the Daily Liberal, 26 April 2017.
http://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/4623195/swing-to-bring-joy-to-dubbo/
