Two Nottingham children are getting the specialist disability equipment they desperately need, thanks to fabulous fundraisers at Central England Co-operative.
Six-year-old Sophie Foreman from Stapleford is receiving a £2,093 all-terrain buggy so she can join in more family fun while a teenager from Wollaton Park will soon be sitting comfortably in a specialist £1,237 chair.
Both families turned to leading UK children’s disability charity Newlife Foundation for help when they were independently told there was no statutory funding available for the equipment their children need for everyday life.
Newlife is Central England Co-operative’s staff-elected charity – and since the partnership began in 2012 colleagues and customers have raised more than £730,000 to fund specialist disability equipment for children in their retail area. To date, 329 children have been helped, receiving specialist equipment as diverse as wheelchairs, stair climbers, beds, walking frames and communication aids.
Sophie Foreman has Down’s Syndrome, uncontrolled eye movement and is partially blind, with sensory processing difficulties and sleep apnoea. Mum Susan said: “She is able to walk short distances, but Sophie gets tired very easily so needs the support of a specialist buggy. Local statutory services have provided us with a basic model – but this won’t manoeuvre over uneven ground or grass. As a result Sophie misses out on a lot of simple outdoor family activities like woodland walks with her younger brother Ben and the opportunity to see her older brother Josh play cricket.”
Susan added: “Having an all terrain buggy will make family life so much easier – and more enjoyable for everyone, not just Sophie.”
Joanne Lofts, Manager of the Central England Co-operative store in Stapleford, said: “As a regional retailer we always ensure that our staff-elected charity supports people in need in our trading area. We are delighted to have been able to help Sophie and her family in this way.”
For full details of Newlife Foundation’s range of practical support for disabled and terminally ill children and their families, call the Newlife Nurse Helpline – 0800 902 0095 (free from UK landlines) – or go to: https://newlifecharity.co.uk
Pictured: Sophie Foreman
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