As a way of raising awareness of the risk to disabled children on the roads, the comedian and writer Tony Hawks and the British Ambassador to Moldova HE Phil Batson presented reflective tags to children at the Tony Hawks Centre in Chisinau in May. The event was part of the Make Roads Safe ‘Long Short Walk’ campaign for pedestrian safety.
Tony Hawks, HE Phil Batson and the ACM team present road safety gifts to the children
100 owl shaped reflective tags, donated by the World Health Organisation, were given to children from the Centre to wear, helping to make them more visible – particularly at night – when crossing the road. The event was organised by EASST partner the Automobile Club of Moldova (ACM), who will be working with Diana Covalciuc other and staff at the Tony Hawks Centre to provide road safety lessons for children and parents over the coming year.
Ambassador Batson and Tony Hawks enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with the children. The guests signed placards saying “I’m walking for…” to show their support for better pedestrian safety as part of the Long Short Walk Campaign and handed out road safety reading materials for children.
Tony Hawks founded the Centre following the publication of his bestseller ‘Playing the Moldovans at Tennis’
Tony Hawks has had a strong link with Moldova since he first visited the country and wrote about his experience in his bestseller ‘Playing the Moldovans at Tennis.’ During his first visit, Tony saw the ordeal disabled Children faced and in particular the difficulty of receiving needed physiotherapy to assist their mobility. With the funds received from his book, Tony helped to set up the Tony Hawks Centre.
