Greta McMillan’s spine is gradually twisting painfully out of shape. She has Cerebral Palsy, which affects her muscles, she can’t make herself comfortable during the night. Her family asked local statutory services for a specialist sleep system to keep her properly positioned – for comfort and to help prevent the condition worsening – but they were told there is no funding available.

Newlife has stepped in to help – and with £998 of funding donated by fashion store chain River Island through a ‘fantastic plastic initiative’, Greta now has the equipment she needs to keep her comfortable at night at her home in the Portobello area of Edinburgh.

The profit from every five pence carrier bag sold at every one of River Island’s UK stores goes to Newlife to directly fund vital equipment, like the sleep system for Greta, aged 13. To date, this has resulted in almost £600,000 of specialist support.

Greta’s dad Ian McMillan says: “Using this new sleep system, which moulds to Greta’s shape, we can make sure she is in the best position possible when she goes to bed at night – and will stay in that position. The equipment has the thumbs-up from Greta, so we know she is more comfortable now and, importantly, this will help delay deterioration of her spinal condition. It is fabulous!”

With the equipment folding away into a carry-bag, the family can take it wherever Greta goes – whether that’s on holiday with them or for much-needed respite care – ensuring consistent support for her complex condition.