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HOIST HELPS CONNOR ENJOY LIFE

It’s the simple things in life that make all the difference – for 14-year-old Connor Griffith the simple pleasure of having a carpet picnic with his family in his living room is the one thing that he has enjoyed the most since getting his new portable hoist from Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children.

The teenager from Preston, Lancashire has Muscular Dystrophy, a life limiting and muscle wasting condition that is slowly stopping him from being able to walk and do things for himself. Connor uses a powered wheelchair to get around when he is away from the family home and relies on a hoist to move positions.

Connor has the use of a ceiling track hoist when he is at home but when he is out with his family and friends, he relies on someone to lift him which is not very dignified for Connor and puts those lifting him at risk of damaging their backs.

But thanks to money raised by Newlife Foundation, the largest charity funder of specialist equipment for Children with disabilities and terminal illness in the UK, he has a new hoist and is now able to move around with greater ease.

His mum, Alison, said: “The portable hoist has made a world of difference to Connor already – it is compact so it means we can use it in a hotel if we want to go away as a family, or even in a public toilet while we are out shopping. But the best thing for Connor has been being able to sit on the floor – something he hasn’t been able to do because once he’s there we can’t get him back up again.”

The Newlife Lancashire Fund supports equipment provision for under-19s in the county area who are facing any significant disability, whether acquired through birth defect, prematurity, accident or illness. The website www.newlifecharity.co.uk/lancashire enables local people to find out who needs help in the area right now and highlights the support given to local families.

Newlife has already helped 374 children within Lancashire, with equipment worth £455,497. But more help is still needed – there are currently 28 children in Lancashire at the moment who urgently need specialist equipment totalling £29,560.

For more information about the Newlife Lancashire Fund, go to www.newlifecharity.co.uk/lancashire or email local@newlifecharity.co.uk. Alternatively you can call the Newlife County Liaison Team on 01543 431444.

Pictured: Connor Griffith

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