Autism Spectrum disorder affects one’s social skills on an everyday basis, this disables people with autism to relate to others around them and diminishes their ability to communicate.
Gerhard Pieterse Autism’s Executive Director for the Western Cape has imprisoned himself in a jail cell in a bid to raise R1 million for the development of autistic adults and children. It will also be used to maintain facilities and services for them.
For Gerhard it is not about the money, it is about raising awareness about those who have autism. It is also to let people know that people, adults and children with autism are just that people like you and I. On the 16th of June 2008, Youth Day, Gerhard was put in handcuffs, and chains and put in a police van that escorted him to Bayside Mall. It was here where he started his campaign Jail4Bail. On the 25th of July after raising about R310, 000-00 towards his autism fund, Gerhard moved to canal walk. He has formed a partnership with the Canal Walk Foundation. Gerhard is currently still there after spending 57 days has raised about R500, 000-00.
Executive Mayor Helen Zille visited Gerhard in his jail cell and made a very generous donation towards the R1 million autism fund. Mayor Zille made a compelling and heartfelt speech that made people more aware of how important this campaign really is.
Gerhard is an extraordinary man who has given up so much to embark on this fundraiser and awareness campaign. Gerhard is an amazing man with a good heart, who thinks of others before himself. Even though this campaign is of a personal nature to him with his daughter having autism, he thought of not only her and what him and his wife as parents are going through but of all people who have autism and the people who care for them.
If you would like to donate to the R 1 million autism fund you are more than welcome to drop by Gerhard Pieterse’s jail cell or you can pledge by going to their website www.autismwesterncape.org.za or you can call 0861 AUTISM (288 476) between the hours of 09:00 and 20:00 if those lines are busy you can contact Gerhard himself on 083 707 1308 or his wife Julie on 083 707 1611.
Blog by: Kerri Fernandes
