Pat finds purpose in helping others

When Pat Majewski was just seven years old, a 21m plummet on a family holiday changed his life forever. He was walking up a gorge in Karijini in the State’s Pilbara region when he slipped on a rock and went tumbling over the lookout. As his father selflessly went to grab him, he fell to his death. “He died trying to save my life,” Pat said in a brave recount of the horrific event. Pat was lucky to be alive, but the fall left him with serious damage to his spinal cord — he was wheelchair bound and unable to ever walk again. “I woke up in ICU as a complete paraplegic,” he said. “Mum had to tell me three times that my dad had died, I just couldn’t believe he was gone.” Pat said he would be forever grateful for his father’s act of bravery that day. Now 16 and off the back of yet another successful Telethon, the former 2014 Telethon child said he had found a purpose. Pat said he had a passion for helping people and inspiring those with disabilities to embrace their differences. He has been accepted into a school-based traineeship at the Brunswick Community Resource Centre and helps mentor young people. “I love helping others, I also want to give others with disabilities hope,” he said. “It’s different for everyone, but it’s important to not be afraid and to take the chance.” The Leschenault boy said his humour helped get him through the dark times. “I don’t mind making a few jokes, I often say stuff like you’re ‘wheelie funny, I can’t stand you’.” When Pat is not guiding the youth or cracking jokes, the young leader can be found keeping fit and healthy. He pushes 4km to Australind Senior High School on his wheelchair and 4km back home. “I definitely try to keep fit and athletic,” he said. “I love learning new tricks in my wheelchair.” Pat admitted to initially struggling to accept help from others in a bid to maintain his independence. “At the time, I hated getting help, I wanted to do everything myself, but I’ve realised that people help each other because they care and I guess that’s why I want to give back to the community,” he said. “If you can’t change something, you’ve got to make the most of it.”