Beating the odds

"Some of her proudest moments, she says, was when she first started walking at six years of age and later in her life when she was able to realise her dream to study at Stellenbosch University."

Toni was born on the 8^th of December 1983 in Knysna. Due to the umbilical cord wrapping around her neck, she was starved of oxygen. Six minutes after her birth she still had an Apgar score of 0. Medical personnel could not be sure of what Toni’s future would hold A few months after her birth she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP). In Toni’s case, her CP affects her speech, balance, and all motor function.  At the age of 6 years, after years of physiotherapy she began walking. For the next five years Toni attended boarding school in Port Elizabeth at Cape Receive School, a school for children with disabilities. After finishing grade 5 Toni was able to attend a private school in her home town, Plettenberg Bay.

Rector's Succeeding Against the Odds Recipients:
Daniella Badenhorst, Toni Mould &
 Amanda de Beer with Prof Russel Botman

After graduating from high school, Toni made her childhood dream come true by getting accepted to study at Stellenbosch University.  In 2006, two years after starting her BA degree in Humanities, she successfully gained entrance to the Social Work program  at Stellenbosch university, a course Toni was  told was closed to her because of her disability.   In 2007, Toni won the Rector’s Award for Succeeding Against the Odds, an award she held until her graduation in 2009. During her time at university she not only succeeded in her academics but was involved in campus life by actively participating in student committees and other activities such as Ballroom and Latin dancing for disabled. 

Toni cycling

 

Since graduating Toni has worked in the corporate world for eighteen months but soon returned to her passion of wanting to help others. She and a colleague founded Bridging Abilities where they aim to use sport, recreation camps and rehabilitation to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities. Toni lives in her own flat in Stellenbosch and has recently started to compete in cycling for disabled.