A family fun day at Sheffield’s Hillsborough Arena earlier this month raised £300 to help fund specialist disability equipment for local children.
The event – on Saturday 21 February – was organised by Victoria Miller and Darren Roe from Wombwell in Barnsley to raise money for leading UK children’s disability charity Newlife Foundation.
Newlife has provided the couple with the specialist buggy they needed to get their two disabled children – 23-month-old Emmie and 11-month-old Riley – out and about in comfort and safety. Both children* have complex medical needs including the brain condition hydrocephalus.
The family fun day featured a charity football match, a range of child-friendly activities, a raffle and jewellery sale. Victoria said: “We wanted to give something back to Newlife, so the family fun day was a way of raising vital funds to help other disabled children in South Yorkshire.”
Newlife Operations Manager Stephen Morgan said: “With demand on our range of practical support services up 25 per cent across the UK, local fundraising events like this one are key to Newlife being able to continue to support local families. Right now in South Yorkshire, Newlife is working with a further 15 families with equipment needs totalling more than £15,000.”
For more information about Newlife Foundation, go to www.newlifecharity.co.uk. All support services can be accessed via the Newlife Nurse Helpline – 0800 902 0095 (free from UK landlines) or email nurses@newlifecharity.co.uk.
The Newlife Community Fundraising team can be contacted on 0800 988 4640 (free from UK landlines) or by emailing fundraise@newlifecharity.co.uk.
* Emmie can walk but struggles with her balance and can only manage short distances. Her brother has inconsistent head control. Both children have additional needs and require extra help with feeding; Riley, who has chronic lung disease, is currently being weaned off oxygen.
The family approached leading Newlife Foundation when they realised they would need a specialist double buggy. They were previously using a standard model but there was no room for Riley’s oxygen cylinder and feeding pump so Victoria and Darren had to carry these on their backs.
With a donation from the family, Newlife met the outstanding cost of the £1,074 buggy which not only accommodates all the medical equipment but keeps Emmie and Riley appropriately positioned to meet their complex needs and help prevent further health issues.
Victoria said: “The buggy is great. Both of them look really comfortable in it and it is a huge help that it has space for the medical equipment. Although Emmie and Riley sit side by side, the buggy is easy to use and is designed to fit through standard doorways.”
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
