Sofia (6) and her father cycle 220 kilometers to the rehabilitation clinic

Created: 07/17/2022, 05:00

By: Clemens Herwig

Father-daughter team: Enrico Wübbold and daughter Sofia want to cycle more than 220 kilometers to rehab.

Because of the therapy, the family's holiday planning, which actually wanted to go north on the Weser cycle path, fell through.

There is early compensation for Sofia – the family trip is to be made up for in 2023.

© Clemens Herwig

Sofia (6) from Bebra (Hersfeld-Rotenburg) needs speech therapy, the special clinic is over 220 kilometers away.

Her father is planning a bike ride to rehab - and is looking for helpers.

Bebra - It takes a moment for Sofia to thaw out - the strange visitor from the newspaper in her parents' house in Bebra (Hersfeld-Rotenburg) in northern Hesse is not entirely familiar to her.

But then she eagerly twirls around on her mother's lap, chuckling happily while playing.

Demands: "Mommy up!".

Her constant companion is forgotten for a moment: a voice PC in tablet format – she has christened the device “Anna”, as reported by hna.de.

Solar energy for the voice computer: "Anna" will also be there on the way to rehab.

Solar cells on the bicycle trailer provide the necessary energy.

© Clemens Herwig

Sofia has speech problems and has been receiving speech therapy for four years, the family says.

There are successes, occasionally the six-year-old babbles away, saying a few words before falling into childish language.

But often "Anna" takes over the communication for the two.

At the push of a button, the device introduces itself and its little owner with stored sentences ("Hello, I'm Sofia"), announces that the six-year-old is hungry and what her hobbies are.

"Anna" is also supposed to support Sofia when she switches to primary school after the summer holidays - the device is not a permanent solution.

Hersfeld-Rotenburg: father-daughter duo from Bebra embarks on a long journey

Visiting a rehabilitation clinic in Bissendorf in Lower Saxony, which specializes in children and young people with communication disorders, could really help.

"We fought for this cure for a long time," says father Enrico Wübbold.

The family's money – which also includes mother Martina Gundlach, nine-year-old Leonie and Maximilian (5) – is tight.

Both parents have a disabled person's pass and live on Hartz 4. The pediatrician prescribed the therapy opportunity for Sofia, and it is paid for by the pension fund.

This is the route Sofia and Enrico Wübbold took from Bebra to Bissendorf © HNA

Enrico Wübbold is now planning a "father-daughter bike tour" to the four-week rehab and back.

"Sofia is an absolute papa child and she can't get enough of camping." The 50-year-old wants to avoid a trip by train: the nine-euro ticket and the holidays mean he fears full trains - not ideal for a trip with the shy six year olds.

At least the luggage for the clinic is sent ahead on the train.

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Hersfeld-Rotenburg: In nine days from Bebra to rehabilitation in Lower Saxony

Depending on the route planner, the two have up to 254 kilometers ahead of them.

It's supposed to start next Monday, they have to be at their destination on July 27th - so the team has nine days.

They have the equipment together, also thanks to generous donors.

But: The budget for the tour is small at 150 euros and campsites are expensive, says Enrico Wübbold, who himself worked as a groundskeeper.

"We are looking for people who will provide us with a piece of greenery where we can pitch our tent."

Looking for a place for a tent

Anyone who can find a place for the father-daughter duo's tent should send an email to campingradtour@outlook.de or call 0 15 77/7 24 47 79.

Especially between Melsungen and Warburg as well as Paderborn and Bissendorf there are still no overnight accommodations.

Father and daughter want to cover about 30 kilometers a day - "depending on how much Sofia manages." They should shower in swimming pools, if necessary they can also go into shallow water for a quick wash.

The two have food with them in the trailer, and they want to stock up on supplies at food banks along the tour.

Enrico Wübbold is confident that everything will go well: "If necessary, I have the courage to ask my way through.

It's quite a nice undertaking.

But the children come first,” says the 50-year-old.

(Clemens Herwig)