Little Millie Emery is the latest in a long list of local children with disabilities to get the specialist equipment they need with the help of auctioneers Cuttlestones.
The Penkridge and Wolverhampton based auction house supports Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children, which is based in Staffordshire. Newlife is the largest charity provider of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness in the UK.
Millie, who is almost six years old, lives with her family in Blurton, Stoke on Trent. She has Cerebral Palsy and cannot sit unaided. She has supportive seating at home, to help prevent further health issues, but urgently needed a specialist car seat.
Grandmother Emma Emery said: “Millie has been using a standard child’s car seat, but it has got to the point where it is painful for her to sit in it because it doesn’t support her properly and so she slumps sideways.”
Not only will the new car seat – costing £670 – keep her appropriately positioned, it has additional safety harnessing and padding and a swivel base which will make it easier for her family to get Millie in and out of the vehicle.
Emma said: “Millie is long in the body and it can be difficult getting her in and out and sometimes she bangs her legs, which hurts her. The swivel base will make transfers more comfortable for her – and put less strain on our backs.”
She added: “We haven’t got a local park so at weekends we go to Rudyard; having the car seat will mean we can go more often – which will not only benefit Millie but her two-year-old brother Charlie as well.”
Cuttlestones MD Ben Gamble said: “We’re delighted that the funds we’ve raised have gone toward buying a new car seat for Millie. As a parent I understand what a struggle it can be to get kids in and out of car seats, so the fact we’ve been able to help get Millie’s family the specialist equipment they need to make life easier and safer is fantastic. We hope they all have lots of fun getting out and about now that she’ll be more comfortable on her journeys.”
If you would like more information about how Newlife helps local families, go to: www.newlifecharity.co.uk/staffordshire or contact the Newlife County Liaison Team on 01543 431 444, email local@newlifecharity.co.uk.
Newlife has already helped 758 children in the county by providing specialist equipment totalling more than £940,000. However, the charity is currently working with a further 23 families who need equipment costing £13,392.
Web: https://newlifecharity.co.uk
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/newlifecharity
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newlifefoundation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/NewlifeFoundation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NewlifeFoundation
