03 June 2025
John Reeves Ellerman always believed that to be able to enjoy a full working and social life, mobility was of vital importance to a blind or visually impaired person.
The trust was founded in 1974 by Saint Dunstan’s South Africa to perpetuate the memory of the late Sir John Reeves Ellerman, who was a great benefactor and friend of Saint Dunstan’s and a Member of the Board. The John and Esther Ellerman Memorial Trust currently support 20 Orientation and Mobility Practitioners. Over the years this support has assisted those in need to access the relevant skills and training to live empowered and independent lives.
"The John and Esther Ellerman Trust have supported SAMBT since 1998. As a result, over 4000 blind living in villages and townships throughout the country have received Orientation and Mobility Training." - Ian Hutton, Managing Trustee SAMBT.
To have mobility training available to all blind people in South Africa enabling the trainees to be integrated into their community and the sighted world at large, and open doors to job opportunities.
Mission
To assist organizations of and for the blind, which based throughout the country, in both city and rural areas to provide training which is adapted to suit the needs and locality of trainees. The assistance is in the form of a – subsidy enabling organizations to employ Orientation and Mobility Practitioners.
Orientation and mobility or O&M, is the skill that blind people require to be fully independent both at home and in terms of navigation and mobility. Orientation skills include skilling blind people to be independent and productive in the home. Skills could include, preparing food and cooking, preparing hot beverages, cleaning, washing and generally managing in the home. Mobility training allows the blind person to become confident to use a white cane as a tool to aid mobility and navigation.
Regrettably, in South Africa, the vast majority of the blind and visually impaired never have the chance to be empowered by O&M due to the lack of qualified O&M instructors.
The JEEMT Long Cane Rally has been in existence since the 1970’s. The event was inaugurated by the JEEMT, John and Esther Ellerman Trust. The Long Cane Rally is utilized as a vehicle to create awareness regarding blindness, and how the training of orientation and mobility; and white cane skills can promote independence and freedom of movement.
Various organizations for the blind in the Western Cape participate with great enthusiasm, in this annual event. These organizations include Athlone School for the Blind, Pioneer School for the Blind, Innovation for the Blind, Cape Town Society for the Blind, HWMEM and Maddrassar school for the blind, Beacon Club and SA Guide Dogs, to name a few.
Blind and visually impaired children and adults all come together for this fun day to show off their white cane skills. It is a day celebrating their skills and their independence.
Each year we have walked different routes to promote and increase public awareness. The participants all meet early in the morning on the day. Some have travelled from Worcester. The walk is a 3km walk which starts at 9am. We have volunteers to assist on the day. Marshalls along the route to ensure participants’ safety and assistants to support the various organizations and assist with any help needed on the day. Everyone gets a T-shirt and a hot lunch to show our appreciation for their support and participation on the day.
After the walk, everyone enjoys a lunch. Depending on sponsorship; there will be goody bags and lucky draws. Sponsors are thanked and acknowledged for their generosity on the day. We have been on popular radio stations sharing our story and appeared in various newspapers.
What Are we hoping to get help with:
Thank you for taking the time to read through and understand what the John and Ester Ellerman Long Cane Rally is all about.
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