Toni Mould
Stellenbosch, Winelands, South Africa
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I grew up in a small coastal town on the southern coast of South Africa called Plettenberg Bay. I was afflicted at birth with Cerebral Palsy, a physical disability that stems from a birth complication.
CP, as it is often called, comes in various forms and degrees. My disability is purely physical and affects my motor skills as well as my speech and balance. Thanks to my wonderful parents and supportive brother and relatives, it was decided that I would be encouraged to live as normal a life as I could in a world which wasn’t really suited to my needs.
At age 7 I started to walk and I was sent to a special school which could provide me with the kind of support that I needed at that stage. Looking back I can see, already then, signs of myself dabbling in activities and academic pursuits that would surprise many. A few certificate for academics, a floating trophy for consistent academic achievement in spite of physical disability, junior chess trophy, horse riding exams were my major achievements in my first five years of schooling. After five emotionally challenging years I moved home and attended a private Christian school. At age 16 I, along with my parents, decided that going to a school was not the best way to finish my education. There were too many requirements and extra activities that were taking time I could be devoting to finishing my academic program. So we found a school where under the supervision of the teachers I could finish my final 3 years in two years by doing homeschooling.
After school I did a gap year before starting at Stellenbosch University in the Cape. I intitially started a BA In Humanities. After I successfully completed the first two years of my degree, I decided to change my course to something I was very passionate about, but which educated professional advised me not to study because of my disability. After another 4 years at varsity,in 2009, I graduated from Stellenbosch with my Social Work degree in hand.
Although studying at varsity was not the easiest thing I’ve done in my life, it was the best thing I did. My life kind of started when I came to Stellenbosch. Here, for the first time in my life I made friends who understood and accepted me. I became a Ballroom and Latin dancer, a leader in the population of students with special needs as well as a three-time winner of the Rector’s Award for Succeeding against the Odds.
I am currently still living in a flat in Stellenbosch and have started an NPO with a colleague. Bridging Abilities aims to use sport and recreation camps and rehabilitation to improve the quality of life of each youth with a disability that we work with. We strive to do this by providing them with the opportunities to develop themselves physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually. It is our belief that through sport and recreation we can build on the abilities and strengths of each young person and empower them to reach their own potential and become someone who can make a contribution in society. Go to http://www.bridgingabilities.co.za/ for more info.
In 2013 I took up paracycling and in March of that year I participated in my first local league race for persons with disabilities. During the next 18 months we searched for a racing tricycle as my trike was not suitable for racing. I received my new trike in January 2015 and two week later I was at my first Nationals! Seven months later, in September, I received my national colours and represented South Africa at the World Cup in Pietermarizburg, South Africa. 2016 Saw me once again take part in the National Champs and the World Cup in Pietermarizburg. In 2016 I yet again took part in the South African leg of the World Cup. Here I earned enough UCI points to win the overall World Cup title for 2016 in the T1 class and finish the year ranked 2nd on the UCI rankings.
My story is hopefully far from over, so join me on my blog to see where my journey will go from here.