For most teenagers, being able to explore their own independence and responsibility is very important, deciding where they can go and what they want to do is all part of growing up – but for 14-year-old Kacper, from Barnet who has Cerebral Palsy this is not possible. All he needs and wants is a power pack to assist his wheelchair so he can do more of what he loves which is explore the outdoors with his mum. Local heroes are needed in Hendon to help Kacper get a new power pack so he can continue to do the things he enjoys.
Kacper Skalski has epilepsy, severe learning disabilities as a result of being born at 26 weeks and is susceptible to infections. He has very restricted mobility and as he has grown he has developed curvature of the spine which he needs a spinal brace for and has been place on the waiting list for spinal surgery.
Kacper relies on people at school and his mum Grazyna at home to push him around – but with the chair being quite heavy and Kacper continuing to grow it’s becoming quite difficult to push him.
Mum Grazyna Stasiak said: “Kacper enjoys going out with me whether it be to a shopping centre or popping to the corner shop, I have had to limit where we go as its just so hard for me to push him long distances. The wheelchair is amazing and does what it’s supposed to do as far as catering to his needs but the bigger he gets the harder it is becoming to push him.”
The power pack Kacper needs costs £645 but this is beyond the family’s budget which is why they have turned to Newlife, the UK’s largest charitable provider of essential equipment to meet the specialist needs of children with disabilities and terminal illness.
With the power pack Kacper’s mum will no longer have to struggle with pushing his wheelchair – she will be able to walk behind and let the power pack do all the work, creating more social and leisure opportunities for them both.
Grazyna added: With the power pack we will be able to go where we like! I will be able to take him to places without worrying if it’s too far or if it has uneven terrain because everywhere will be accessible. Kacper loves exploring and meeting new people so the power pack will definitely enable this to happen more often and in new places.
Right now, Kacper’s family is just one of 74 in the county who need equipment totalling £82,649. That’s why Newlife has a dedicated Greater London Fund – www.newlifecharity.co.uk/Greater London which gives local people the opportunity to help local disabled children. Every penny donated or fundraised in Greater London is guaranteed to support families in the county. To specifically support Kacper, go the website and click on the Donate button beside his story.
The Newlife Greater London Fund supports equipment provision for under-19s facing any significant disability, whether acquired through birth defect, prematurity, accident or illness. Newlife has provided 802 families in Greater London with disability equipment – including beds, wheelchairs, seating and sensory aids – worth over £1,000,000.
The website includes contact details for the Newlife County Liaison Team – tel no 01543 431 444 or email local@newlifecharity.co.uk – and shows specific ways people can help support children with disability and terminal illness and their families in the county.
Pictured: Kacper Skalski
Web: https://newlifecharity.co.uk
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