The family of Lisburn girl Orla Adamson are encouraging local people to support a newly launched fund to provide specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness in County Antrim.

Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children has already helped 181 children in County Antrim through equipment grants and loans totalling more than £230,000, so the charity knows there is a very real need for a specific county fund. In this way it aims to help more children, more quickly.

Right now, Newlife Foundation need £8,087 for 10 children in County Antrim to secure vital specialist equipment to help improve daily life. Further information about the Newlife County Antrim Fund can be found by going to www.newlifecharity.co.uk/countyantrim or by emailing local@newlifecharity.co.uk. Telephone donations can be made by calling 01543 462 777.

A specialist ‘Safespace’ bed supplied by Newlife in 2013 means Orla’s parents no longer worry about her at night as she is now both safe and comfortable.

“My daughter Orla is 4-years-old and has Dravet Syndrome,” her mum Aisling explained. “She was greatly helped by Newlife Foundation and our family is a lot happier now, knowing that when Orla is in her safespace she is comfortable and safe.

“When Orla has a seizure, she is at no harm in her safe bed. It is totally safe and it’s all because of Newlife funding her bed.”

Orla has now grown out of her car seat and needs a £2,478 specialist seat with the correct postural support to keep her safe. The four-year-old can have up to 40 seizures in a day and needs a car seat that ensures she is in a safe position if this happens.

Aisling added: “Newlife are also funding a car seat suitable for Orla’s needs.

“It will grow with Orla and has the support she needs. It will recline for her if she gets tired or has a seizure.”

The Newlife Foundation County Antrim Fund supports equipment provision for under-19s facing any significant disability, whether acquired through birth defect, prematurity, accident or illness.

Vitally, the Newlife Foundation County Antrim Fund website – www.newlifecharity.co.uk/antrim – will enable local people to find out who needs help in their county right now and highlight the support the charity gives vulnerable families. It includes contact details for the Newlife County Liaison Team – telephone 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.

That might involve taking part in a local sporting challenge, give you information on how to organise a fundraising event – or even ask you to donate £5 today. Volunteers are also needed to help raise awareness of what we do and how we do it.

We hope that by launching the Newlife County Antrim Fund, children with disabilities or terminal illness in the county won’t have to go without the equipment they need for everyday life.

Newlife Foundation supports families in County Antrim through a range of free services:

Nurse-staffed helpline

Equipment grants

Emergency equipment loans

Sensory and developmental toy ‘pod’ loans.

Pictured: Orla Adamson

Web: https://newlifecharity.co.uk
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