Western News: October 02, 2018

WESTERN NEWS Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Tuesday October 2 2018 11
News
Mike ready to slide off to L.A
• By Anan Zaki
ST JOHN of God care facility
resident Mike L.A hopes a new
waterslide will take him all the
way to Los Angeles.
Mr L.A, which is his real
name, is excited about the 80m
waterslide at the Halswell care
home, where he resides.
He changed his surname
from Bruce to L.A by deed
poll two years ago due to his
love for the United States city,
where he has been five times.
The waterslide was inspired
by St John of God’s smaller
20m waterslide last summer,
which was only open for
residents.
“I went airborne last time.
This time it might take me to
LAX [airport],” Mr L.A said.
But he said his backside may
be a bit sore once he lands.
St John of God is a care
facility for people with
physical and neurological
disabilities.
Mr L.A moved into the
facility after suffering a heart
attack, which left him with
physical disabilities.
St John of God Trust
acting national manager for
fundraising and marketing
Nigel Matthews is aiming
SLIDING: St John of God resident Mike L.A on the site for
the waterslide with St John of God acting national manager
for fundraising and marketing Nigel Matthews.
to open the waterslide by
Christmas.
The project started in July
and will cost about $9000,
which will all be covered by
donations.
St John of God plans to
invite schools in the area to
use the slide.
“Being able to invite them
in gives the benefit to not only
the community but also to our
residents to see the fun that
others are having with it.
“Then we’ll also have our
own opportunity to be able to
put residents on the slide and
let them experience things you
and I take for granted,” Mr
Matthews said.
St John of God also wants
other disability care providers
to utilise the waterslide for
events or fundraisers.
Construction company
HEB donated digger services
to carve soil out for the
slide.
“So it’s created a downhill
ramp which we we’re going
to continue on to an 80m
slide out the back of our care
facility.
“We’re currently talking to
Fulton Hogan to help us with
the safety netting to make sure
there’s a non-slip walkway
to the top of the ramp,” Mr
Matthews said.
The slide itself would either
be made from black polythene
or a purpose-built inflatable
slide.
“It [inflatable slide] would
be the ideal end goal as it will
allow us to be able to install it
quickly.”
The trust is yet to decide
what material the slide will
be made from, but that is
not what’s important, Mr
Matthews said.
“We want to make sure the
community can come in and
interact with residents.”
The waterslide won’t be
permanent, but St John of God
is yet to decide how long it will
run for.
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