Keep Dreaming, Keep Living - A True Hero

Sept. 4, 2012 - PRLog -- Airports Company South Africa Trade and Lifestyle Expo and Conference

Don Wessels, True Hero, Speaks at Airports Company South Africa Disability Expo

“The day you stop dreaming, is the day you stop living,” says motivational speaker, Don Wessels, who at the age of 19 lost the use of his eyes and hands in an explosion in Angola whilst doing his two-year National Service in the Defence Force.    

Despite this tragedy which brought huge challenges, Don (43) has achieved incredible successes. He decided to focus on what he could still do and set certain goals for himself. Today he holds an honours and MA degrees, has been married for 11 years to Maatje, a beautiful girl from the Karoo and together they have three lovely young sons. Don has climbed to the top of Kilimanjaro as a blind person and has practised his much-loved hobby of fishing and boating in five countries. Don works in the property industry and is an enthusiastic and humorous motivational speaker. “I realise that we’re not put on earth to live just for ourselves. Life is about more than just ‘me’.  We’re here to reach out and touch other’s lives by doing so,” he says.

This inspiration and role model will be telling his story at the upcoming Airports Company South Africa Disability expo, which takes place from 6 to 8 September at the Sandton Convention Centre. Don will be sharing his story at the Expo during lunchtime on Thursday 6 September.

Keep Dreaming, Keep Living

In 1987 at the age of 19 years, Don suffered a terrible accident whilst investigating the wreck of a government reconnaissance plane deep in the Angolan bush. Upon entering the wreck, he and his team found out that it was booby trapped. Like a real life war movie,  tragedy struck – an unrecognised mine exploded in Don’s hands – leaving him without eyes, hands and parts of his face. After four years of plastic surgery, his face was rebuilt. Despite the trauma, Don’s faith and courage was unshakable.  “I believe what the American motivational speaker, Robert Kiyosaki, said: great opportunities are not seen with your eyes, but seen with your mind,” says Don.  “You have to be able to ‘see’ the dream in your mind, to be able to follow and achieve it.”

Thanks to the amazing support from his family, Don went on to complete a BA degree, Honours and Masters Degrees; got married and became a father and went on many outdoor adventures like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. What a feat!
Much More to See and Do
There’s a jam-packed programme of activities, demonstrations, conferences and exhibits awaiting visitors to the Airports Company South Africa Disability Lifestyle Trade Expo and Conference.
The expo offers numerous informational, educational, and interactive events, the ever-popular trade show plus a two-day conference on 6 and 7 September. The theme is “Solutions for Delivery to People with Disabilities” and will cover topics such as entrepreneurship, employment equity, transport, education, training and skills development.
Other attractions include baking demonstrations by the SA Chefs Association; arts and crafts demonstrations and numerous sports demonstrations such as sound ball tennis, wheelchair tennis and curling.
For all of the latest updates on special events, the conference programme and exhibitors visit www.mcnaughtonevents.co.za
Other Inspirational Talks at the Show
Businesswoman, role model and TV personality Masingita Masunga lives with cerebral palsy.  She will tell her story, called “Achieving your Dreams” on Friday 7 September at 12h00 in the expo hall.

When she failed grade 12 for the second time because of her handwriting, Masingita
challenged the education system to accommodate her needs. From that experience she became a disability activist, daring to push the envelope and change attitudes towards the term ‘disabled’. She has been able to beat the odds and make a difference in her life, her family, and ultimately across the country. Masingita uses her TV show ‘Masingita with Confidence’ on Soweto TV, as a platform to spread her message to “make things happen for you”.
About the ACSA Disability Trade & Lifestyle Expo
The ACSA Disability Trade & Lifestyle Expo will include entertainment and lifestyle choices; adapted vehicles; assisted daily living equipment and service (ADLS); communication aids; computers; easy reach devices; emergency medical supplies; hand cycles; hearing aids; hospital furniture; mobility aids; occupational products; patient handling devices; physio equipment; products and aids for the deaf and blind; prosthetic artificial limbs; showering devices / building products; sports equipment; training institutions; walking sticks; wheelchairs; wheelchair clothing and, much more!
For more information on exhibiting at or visiting the show, contact:
Bette McNaughton - Event Director. Tel (+27) 11 784 4279. E-mail: bettemc@fairconsultants.com. www.mcnaughtonevents.co.za+27
For more information on the events programme, please contact Catherine Larkin from CVLC. Tel: (+27 11) 789-7327. E-mail: catherine@cvl.co.za

ENDS