A south Auckland community leader, a Taranaki glass company, and a building supplies firm say they'll help a man who's been struggling with health authorities for two years to get safety glass installed at his home.
New Lynn father Zafar Gondal told Newshub on Tuesday he was devastated after trying and failing to get the Ministry of Health-funded modifications completed to help protect his disabled son, Diam.
Diam is autistic, has epilepsy and is deaf and blind. The 20-year-old is prone to unpredictable and sometimes violent outbursts. In late December, Diam broke through a window and cut himself. His mother was also injured.
Dave Letele, a former professional boxer who now runs the fitness movement Butterbean Motivation and a food parcel charity, watched the Newshub story and posted about Gondal's plight to his thousands of followers.
On Wednesday, Letele met with Gondal to give him the news that he'd managed to raise the money required for the job.
The Waitemata DHB quoted the job at $11,739. It supported Gondal saying the modifications were "clinically appropriate" but it needed Ministry approval to proceed with the job.
"We've managed to get a few thousand dollars. I've been blessed enough to do some corporate speaking over the last couple of weeks. It was going to go on my mortgage, but instead it'll go to this family to help," Letele told Newshub.
Gondal told Newshub he was speechless to learn that after a two-year battle, a solution had been found.
"And now in 24 hours, we're almost there. It's wonderful."
Letele was scathing of the health system's convoluted approach, and hoped major new reforms will improve service delivery to the most vulnerable.
"If they keep doing the same thing and keep funding the same bureaucrats, nothing's going to change. So I'm hoping out of this, there's some pressure is put on them to change."
Operators of a Taranaki-based glass company, Fairview Hawera Windows & Doors, also got in touch with Newshub after seeing Gondal's story.
They plan to visit Gondal's home and take measurements for the job on Thursday.
"This is something that we do and we're good at it, so if we can help someone out, all to it," Fairview Hawera owner Greg Steer told Newshub.
His wife and company co-owner, Rocky Steer, said with the help of building products supplier FMI Building Innovation, they'll get the job done for free.
"Once we've got the measurements for the glass, they'll put it into production and have it made by next week. So that's pretty cool."
Letele said if the money he's raised is not required, he plans to donate it to Gondal and his family regardless.
"How good would it be as a nice little Easter present? Not just Easter eggs but giving some financial support," he said.
