Disabled get wings of hope

A group of disabled children have been treated to their first flight - as part of a project to teach them that "anything is possible".

More than 20 children from the Hope School in Westcliff, Johannesburg, were taken to Wonderboom Airport, outside Pretoria, to enjoy flights in a Cessna light aircraft and a helicopter as part of the Give a Kid Wings programme.

Liezel van Rensburg, a spokesman for the event, said: "Some of the children were a little scared but once they were up in the air they loved it."

The event was organised by the Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund, Icexpress Progressive Prosthetics and the Pretoria Flying School.

Werner Nel, who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident and is now training for his commercial pilot's licence, said: "I believe children ... should be encouraged to be the best they can be to achieve their goals despite the obstacles."