She’s got the power! Teenager Tanya Kaur-Heer from Leicester is looking forward to getting out into the summer sunshine – with the help of a special power pack for her wheelchair.

The power pack has been provided by Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children, with funding support from fabulous fundraisers at Central England Co-operative.

Tanya, aged 18, has a rare condition that affects the development of her brain; she has limited mobility and uses a wheelchair to get around. As Tanya has grown it has become harder for her mum, Rajinder Nijjar, to push her about so they have become more isolated.

Rajinder said: “I am a little person anyway, so pushing Tanya’s wheelchair has become more and more difficult – pavements aren’t level, ramps and kerbs are a nightmare and getting her up hills is a real challenge. It puts me off taking her out.

“The power pack for the wheelchair will make a huge difference. Without this funding from Central England Co-operative and the support of Newlife Foundation we would still be stuck indoors.”

She added: “The power pack will give Tanya increased independence to get out wherever she wants to go. I want to thank everyone involved – I am so happy because they are changing our lives.”

With no funding available from local statutory services, Rajinder approached Newlife Foundation for help. Newlife is the UK’s largest charity provider of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness.

In May 2012 Central England Co-operative colleagues chose Newlife Foundation as their staff-elected charity. Since then they have worked tirelessly to help fund a wide variety of specialist equipment for children in their trading area. So far, more than £1million has been raised and in excess of 460 children supported through this successful partnership.

Neil Holmes, Manager of the Central England Co-operative convenience store in Uppingham Road, Leicester, said: “As a regional retailer we always ensure that our staff-elected charity supports people in need in our trading area. We are delighted to have been able to help Tanya and her family in this way.”

Newlife CEO Sheila Brown, OBE, added: “This has been an amazing partnership, helping us to support so many in urgent need. Without this level of support from Central England Co-operative, some of these children would have gone without the equipment they needed and many more would have had to wait months or even years just for an assessment of their needs. With statutory services’ budgets increasingly stretched, it is charities such as Newlife which step in to offer the vital equipment that really does change lives.”

For more information about how Newlife supports families in the county, go to www.newlifecharity.co.uk/leicestershire

For full details of Newlife Foundation’s range of practical support for disabled and terminally ill children and their families, call the Newlife Nurse Helpline – 0800 902 0095 (free from UK landlines and mobiles) – or go to: www.newlifecharity.co.uk

Pictured: Tanya Kaur-Heer

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