Brady positively impacts lives one bottle cap at a time

Six years ago, while in primary school, at Alberton High's Open Day, Brady Bernard heard about the collection of bottle tops, and in exchange, the learners would earn badges.

To qualify for a wheelchair from Interwaste, the learners had to collect 450kg of bottle tops. He made it his goal to collect the 450kg to get his own wheelchair.

It took six years, and in total, he brought in 830kg of bottle tops, equal to 26 dustbins. However, he said this would not have been a success without help from his friends.

"Six years ago, I met two amazing people, Sbu and Simon, who are recyclers. They helped me over the years. Sadly, Simon passed away in December 2021, but I thank my friend Sibu. On behalf of myself, Erin and some special learners on my welfare committee, we presented him with a gift," said Brady.

The Grade 12 learner, also vice president of the school's welfare, recently spread love by presenting a wheelchair to the Stepping Stone Hospice at the school's assembly.

"My uncle passed away on December 26, 2022, at Stepping Stone Hospice, and I made a promise to all the wonderful staff there that I would donate the wheelchair that I’m getting them. We could also not have done it without certain learners who also brought in bottle tops," Brady said.

Brady is actively involved in the community in charities that aim to uplift the lives of others.

Brady's mother, Jenni, said she is proud of her son and that it took a while to collect the bottle tops.

Erin Reed, the vice president of welfare, said: "I also collect bottle tops with the help of my family. It's been a long and stressful process for us to get this wheelchair. We’re proud that Alberton High could work together to get the wheelchair."

Sister Margi Bollman, the care services manager at the Stepping Stone Hospice, extended her appreciation and said the wheelchair would help them greatly.

"The whole process of being registered with hospice means you’re trying to improve your quality of life before you reach your end of life. The wheelchair will help us keep some of our patients more mobile when they can't be mobile anymore so that they can spend time with their families," she said.

At present, she said only a few donations come through because people are battling financially, and that post-Covid-19, the donations do not come in as they used to.