Tauranga businessman helps ‘relieve the pressure’

Steve Ellingford navigating his way through the centre in a wheelchair.

They say it takes a mile in someone else's shoes for you to truly understand them and for one Tauranga businessman, that mile has not been spent walking.

Bayfair centre manager Steve Ellingford has experienced his entire work day today, from the seat of a wheelchair as a way to raise awareness for World Spinal Cord Injury Day.

Every week at least three New Zealanders are paralysed by a spinal cord injury and New Zealand Spinal Trust, Bayfair Shopping Centre and The Palms Shopping Centre in Christchurch have partnered together to help ‘relieve the pressure', by raising awareness and funds for those affected.

To kick off the week, Steve has spent the day running the Bayfair shopping centre from a wheelchair.

'As a shopping facility we want to be more accessible,” says Steve.

'For me personally, I am wanting to understand how someone in a wheelchair operates in our centre.

'We do all these things to make our centre better and I don't really have a personal understanding of how they help, so I'm glad I get to experience it. We're also quite keen to look at what we can do better too.”

Steve says it's been a normal day at work, however he's purposely covered a lot more ground so he can experience what it's like to use different parts of the shopping complex.

'I've been out into the carparks, through construction zones and throughout the entire centre to get a feel for how it works and whether what we have in place is functional.

'On a day-to-day basis if I want to get up and go somewhere I can, and I think the flexibility to do these things, which we see as being relatively simple tasks, is so important to note because they can be quite complex for people who are in wheelchairs.

'I think they day has highlighted to me a lot of things I'm otherwise not aware of.

'People can tell you how much of a challenge it is, but there's nothing like experiencing it for yourself and getting a feel for what others are going through.

'It's a great opportunity to create awareness and gain understanding about people with accessibility needs.”

He says it's been a physical and mental challenge.

'It's quite hard on your shoulders, but getting around has been okay.

'Trying to hold conversations with people who are standing up was quite interesting too. You're sitting, they are standing and you're not on eye level. I found that quite interesting to adjust to.”

NZST marketing manager Mike Brown says all New Zealanders are encouraged to get involved over the next week.

'The awareness week runs from September 5- 12 and you can show your support by posting a photo or even a short video showing how you relieve the pressure in your life.

'Be it a walk on the beach, a game of sport, or relaxing with friends, and family.”

Those who get involved can share their experiences by using the hashtag #RelieveThePressure on social media platforms or by visiting: www.relievethepressure.org.nz

'By doing this you will be helping raise awareness and support.”

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