You’re a champion Wesley!

Today is World Cerebral Palsy Day.

World Cerebral Palsy Day was created by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance 10 years ago in 2012 and now brings together people living with cerebral palsy, their families, allies, supporters and organisations across more than 100 countries.

Cerebral palsy is one of the least understood disabilities and people with cerebral palsy are often out of sight, out of mind and out of options in communities around the world. This needs to change.

There are more than 17 million people across the world living with cerebral palsy. Another 350 million people are closely connected to a child or adult with cerebral palsy. It is the most common physical disability in childhood. Cerebral palsy is a permanent disability that affects movement. Its impact can range from a weakness in one hand, to almost a complete lack of voluntary movement.

It is a complex disability:

• 1 in 4 children with cerebral palsy cannot talk
• 1 in 4 cannot walk
• 1 in 2 have an intellectual disability
• 1 in 4 have epilepsy.

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong disability and there is no known cure.

We came to know about Wesley when someone passed us his book “Finding Happiness.”

Born with severe Cerebral Palsy into an abusive environment, Wesley struggles with speaking, eating and walking. He is wheelchair-bound.

But all this does not stop him from chasing his dreams — to have a family of his own and to become a figure of inspiration.

We were so inspired by his story that we reached out to Wesley a couple of years ago. Today we are good friends, spending time together over meals, in prayer or even a drive.

Ever the entrepreneur, he even has his own website where he sells his books and his own branded apparels in an e-commerce store. He still goes to Orchard Road on most days to sell tissues to support himself.

This week, we had our friends and partners Kate and Mai who came to visit us from Canada and Thailand. What a great time we all had with Wesley over a home-cooked meal!

You’re a true champion Wesley! Thank you for inspiring all of us.

May the good work of the world Cerebral Palsy Alliance spread even greater awareness globally and bear much fruit in the years to come.

For us all, let us remember that children and adults with cerebral palsy have the same rights, access and opportunities as anyone else in our society. May we play a part in showing care, compassion and hope for those with cerebral palsy.