Chaeli Campaign

Mobilising the minds and bodies of children with disabilities: our differently-abled gems

The Chaeli Campaign is a unique NPO, founded by Chaeli Mycroft then only 9 years old, her sister Erin and friends Justine, Tarryn and Chelsea Terry in August 2004 after they successfully raised R20 000 in only 7 weeks to purchase the motorised wheelchair that Chaeli needed. Since then these young social entrepreneurs have introduced philanthropy to many schools in the Western Cape by encouraging them to stage events that will benefit children with disabilities.
Today, the Chaeli Campaign is a thriving organisation based in the Chaeli Cottage, which hosts a coffee shop and meeting place, therapy rooms and a board room used for workshops and ambassador training.
The Ambassador programme encourages young children to raise awareness among their peers and start their own fundraising programme for their own chosen cause.
The newly started Chaeli Sport & Recreation Club is dedicated to promoting sports and recreation for the differently abled in an inclusive environment. Membership available to people of ALL abilities.

In the 2010 Cape Argus Cycle Tour, sixty nine cyclists will set off on 14 March 2010 with pride in their hearts knowing that they are contributing to the well-being of children with disabilities as they cycle to raise funds for the Chaeli Campaign.
Amongst the Chaeli Argus Riders this year is Mad Mom Zelda, mother of Chaeli Mycroft and CEO of the Chaeli Campaign. Due to a knee operation, the rotation required on a conventional bicycle is too restricting so Zelda has entered on a hand cycle. Tracey Cohen cannot ride a bicycle because of her disability and is raising sponsorship as a Ghost Rider. Kenneth Carden and a group of 12 cyclists, largely comprised of employees of the Woolworths IT Department, will cycle 100kms each day, for the 2 days preceding “the Argus” and then will complete the Cape Argus Pick n Pay race with all other entrants.
Seven children are riding the Junior Tour and 12 children have entered the Tricycle Tour for the Chaeli Campaign. Matthew and Ryan Spagnoletti have Cockayne Syndrome, which is an extremely rare condition and will be riding the Tricycle Race with a group of their friends to raise funding for the medication and special supplements that they need.
While Leah Khan, Juan Celliers and Busi Mabedla have cyclists riding for them this year to raise funding for assistive devices, medical support, rehabilitation facilitation and nutritional supplements, other cyclists support the Therapy Centre at Chaeli Cottage that provides ongoing support and therapies to a number of children throughout the year.
The spirit of the Chaeli Campaign is best summed up in a quotation from Clem Sunter (Author and Motivational Speaker), “The Chaeli Campaign shows what a single young individual can do to change the lives of others for the better. All you need is a good idea (Like the sunshine pots) and the enthusiasm to cause a chain reaction. Chaeli has both.”