Our son, Abdul-Qahhaar, is a fun-loving 11-year-old happy chappy with an adventurous spirit. Born with a brain abnormality that impacted his muscle tone, he is classified as a spastic quadriplegic. This means he is unable to walk or sit unaided, and his speech and eyesight were also affected. However, despite these challenges, Abdul-Qahhaar has become one of our greatest teachers in life. He is the happiest person we know – his infectious smile and laughter light up every space he is in.

From an early age, we embraced his love for the outdoors, taking him on beach outings, walks, hikes, and especially swimming trips, as he adores the water.

Our introduction to WoW came through a dear friend who, like us, had a child with special needs. Sadly, both our friend and her son have since passed on (may God’s mercy and blessings be upon them).

Our very first outing was the Seal Island boat trip in 2017. Abdul-Qahhaar was just 2 years old at the time. It was during that trip that we discovered what WoW truly was about: hope, courage, and adventure.

Soon thereafter, we registered for the Cape Town Cycle Tour set to take place in March 2019, when Abdul-Qahhaar was only 4 years old – the youngest warrior at the time.  We ended up not taking part in the race as we made the difficult decision as a family to withdraw due to the inclement weather.

We continued cycling, participating in smaller events, like the PPA Sportiv cycling challenges, which he absolutely loved, especially with both mom and dad riding alongside.

Then in March 2020, just before the Covid pandemic hit, Abdul-Qahhaar completed his very first full Cape Town Cycle Tour! Pulled by his superhuman dad, Yazeed (who completed his second Tour), and assisted by two incredible WoW volunteer riders.

The support we received from WoW in terms of logistics, preparation, and emotional encouragement was phenomenal. As a mom, it gave me peace of mind knowing that everything was thoughtfully organised, especially because Abdul-Qahhaar requires careful positioning, body breaks, regular feeds through a feeding tube, and attentive care. Having his dad with him on that 5-hour-plus ride also made all the difference.

The CT Cycle Tour will always hold a special place in our hearts – the shared nerves and excitement with other warrior parents, the community support, and the cheers from strangers along the route created a magical experience. In fact, it was so special that in 2023, I decided to join Yazeed and Abdul-Qahhaar and we completed our first Cycle Tour as a family (albeit just the half)!

Through WoW, Abdul-Qahhaar has experienced a wide range of inclusive adventures – surfing at Muizenberg, road running races across Cape Town, visits to the Aquarium and Table Mountain, and so much more. Last year, we even travelled to Durban to take part in the Amashova National Classic Race. The attention the WoW buggies attract is always heartwarming. People stop to ask questions, learn about the cause, and find out how to get involved.

These adventures have done wonders for Abdul-Qahhaar’s confidence and social development. But more than that, WoW has given our family a safe, inclusive space of encouragement, belonging, and support, where children with special needs are celebrated, and where families like ours can connect through a shared passion for inclusive adventure.

– Yazeed, Sameera and Abdul-Qahhaar Hendricks –