By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
IRONICALLY what changed Mark Golotta’s life forever is now the one thing that will improve it.
A paraplegic, 30-year-old Mark was left fighting for his life after a road accident in 2007.
Recently obtaining his car licence, Mark is now in need of a modified car.
Mark’s carer and mother, Donna Dickenson said a car would mean a new chapter in Mark’s life.
“Getting his licence back and a car will give him back his independence,” she said.
An experienced motocross rider and two times Australian champion, Mark was riding a road bike to work on Thompsons Road in Cranbourne in 2007 when he was struck by a car.
A 51-year-old Hampton Park driver was killed in the accident and Mark was put on life support and spent 18 months in hospital and rehabilitation.
“He had several bleeds on the brain, multiple strokes and has been left paralysed to a certain degree from the accident on the left-hand side of his body,” Donna said.
A boilermaker, Mark has recently gone back to part-time work after a small business he bought following the accident didn’t work out.
“Mark doesn’t qualify for the disabled pension until he’s 38 because he got a payout from the TAC after the accident.
“But that money went down the drain with the business he bought because he couldn’t compete – it was too much for him, he did try and better himself but it just didn’t work out,” Donna said.
Now with his driver’s licence Mark is ready to get back on the road and has a VW with his name on it once he can afford it.
“We can’t do anything until we get funds to do it up for him – it’s got to be put together for a disabled person so we are running a fund-raiser to put towards a life changing car for him,” she said.
Having completed his apprenticeship as a boilermaker just two weeks before the accident, Donna said a modified car would mean Mark could drive himself to work again.
“With a car he will be able to visit friends and be accepted back into society, which is all he wants,” she said.
Donna and Mark from Berwick are running a casino themed fund-raiser at the Berwick Bowls Club on Saturday 22 August from 6.30pm to 11.30pm.
To donate items to be sold at auction on the night, contact Donna on 0427 473 878.
“Most of the time Mark gets taxis or we drive him around, and he’s very excited to eventually get a car,” she said.
