A disabled children’s charity is urgently calling on individuals, groups and businesses in Manchester to raise desperately needed money to help children in the region deprived of life changing specialist equipment.
Newlife is the UK’s largest charity providing specialist equipment to disabled and terminally ill children, helping to reduce the pain and suffering of thousands every year.
Ian Fraser, Head of Fundraising for Newlife said: “Latest figures show there are now over 125,000 disabled children across the North West, 15 per cent more than the last year.
“More demand for specialist support and equipment is putting extreme pressure on an already struggling NHS. A growing number of families have no choice but to turn to charities like Newlife because their local health or social care services refuse to help or have to endure unbearably long waiting times.
Three-year-old Bailey Jennings from Stockport, is one of those children.
Born with Cerebral Palsy, Bailey is unable to sit up, crawl or stand without support. He needs to be strapped into a specialist standing frame to stretch out his muscles several times a day. If he can’t he’ll be forced to have painful hip surgery in the near future.
Although Bailey has a standing frame at nursery, he only uses it for a short time each day, and it’s too bulky to take home. Despite not having access to a standing frame permanently – Bailey only spends 20 hours a week at nursery – the NHS won’t fund what they call ‘duplicate equipment’.
Desperate to relieve some of Bailey’s pain, his mum, Abigail Morrison, turned to Newlife for help to fund the £1,180 frame.
Abigail said: “Bailey needs to stretch his muscles after nursery, weekends and holidays, otherwise they spasm painfully and become tight and rigid. This causes his hips to rotate out of place faster and speed up the need for surgery to correct it.
“I was so relieved when the standing frame arrived from Newlife. Bailey is so happy he can stand up and can do so much more.”
Ian Fraser continues: “We’re calling on individuals, groups and businesses in Manchester to help children like Bailey so we can give them the specialist equipment they need and that has life changing impact.”
Right now Newlife has applications in from more than 30 families in Manchester desperate for disability equipment for their children and needs to raise over £32,000 just to help them.
Ian added: “It’s heart-breaking, without enough funds we simply can’t help every child. With new applications coming in every day we’re calling on kind hearted individuals, community groups and businesses to help us help the growing numbers of disabled children in Manchester.
“Fundraising for Newlife is simple. We have a dedicated team who’ll support you with ideas as well as providing the practical things you need to make your fundraising activities a success.
“So, whether you want to climb a mountain, take on a personal challenge, or simply bake some cakes – we’d love to hear from you.”
However you fundraise, Newlife can guarantee that 100% of the funds raised will be used to fund equipment for disabled children in desperate need. You could help a child just like Bailey.
For more information about Fundraising for Newlife in Manchester contact Jane Harries, Newlife’s Regional Fundraising and Awareness Manager for the North West on 07494 490561. Alternatively, DONATE via the website or contact Suzie or a member of the Fundraising team on 01543 462777.
