Riding for Change: Wheels of Hope Help Amputees Walk Again

Bushy McKelvey, along with his team, recently completed an incredible 6,000-kilometre motorcycle journey in just 15 days with Wheels of Hope, a project started by Bushy and Dave Malherbe aimed at helping amputees who cannot afford prosthetic legs.

“It was on that day of lockdown that the two of us started Wheels of Hope. This was our first year, our pilot to see how it would go. The idea is to try and get sponsorship, and then help people who cannot afford it to buy legs people without medical aid. We can’t help the whole country, but we did manage to reach a few.”

Their journey began in Centurion, helping several individuals along the way. One of the standout moments for Bushy was meeting little Libongwe in Port Elizabeth, a five-year-old who was born with malformed feet. With the help of local professors, they fitted him with prosthetic legs.

“He was absolutely amazing. Being young, he adapted so quickly. He was running around like crazy. It was brilliant.”

The team also visited Durban, Upington, and other areas around the country, assisting those in need, including individuals affected by accidents or illness.

Bushy reflected on the motivation behind such a demanding journey.

“The reason behind it is what matters. We like to say, we’re not disabled, we’re just differently abled. If you put legs onto anybody, they just become differently abled. You can now get on with your life. Once you feel sorry for yourself, depression sets in, and that’s one of the worst things there is. So, get on with your life. The quicker you do that, the better it is for yourself.”

Looking ahead, Wheels of Hope is already planning their next route across South Africa. Bushy emphasised that the work continues year-round:

“People regularly contact us, and where we can, we fund their help. Even now, we’re helping a lady from Nelspruit. It doesn’t stop, it carries on throughout the year. It takes a lot of time, but you’re giving back.”

Bushy’s personal story also adds weight to their mission. As double amputee himself, he lost his first leg in a hit-and-run in 1999, and his second in a motorcycle accident in 2008, he knows what it takes to move forward.

“You’ve got to get over it, forgive and forget, and move on. That’s the important thing.”

Through Wheels of Hope, Bushy and his team are giving hope, independence, and a reminder that life can continue.