Twelve-year-old Stacie Stroud has no problem keeping up with her friends at school – now she has a new powered wheelchair. Stacie, from Andover, is enjoying the benefits of a new hi-tech wheelchair, which has been provided through her family’s local fundraising activities (£3,000) and an equipment grant from Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children (£4,286).
Stacie said: “It’s really cool and fun to drive. I thank everyone involved for helping to get my new wheelchair.”
This is the second wheelchair that Newlife – the UK’s largest charity funder of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness – has helped provide for Stacie, a pupil at Kings School. She had outgrown her previous powered wheelchair and local statutory services could not fund a like-for-like replacement, so the family turned once again to Newlife for support.
Stacie has Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, which is a progressive condition, and Epilepsy. The high spec wheelchair helps reduce the incidence and pain of pressure sores and its high/low facility means Stacie can access different levels of work surfaces both at home and school. Not only that, says mum Sarah Stroud, but “it’s faster than the old wheelchair so not only will she be keeping up with her friends but they may even have to run to keep up with her!”
Sarah added: “Stacie seems really comfortable in the new wheelchair, which is important because it will be in use every day, everywhere she goes.”
In response to a growing need for essential equipment in the county, Newlife launched a dedicated Hampshire Fund. The fund’s website – www.newlifecharity.co.uk/hampshire – enables local people to find out who needs help in their county right now and highlights the support the charity gives to families. If you would like to find out how you can help, please contact the Newlife County Liaison Team on 01543 431 444 or email local@newlifecharity.co.uk.
Stacie is one of 381 children in Hampshire to be helped by Newlife, with equipment totalling £606,145. However, applications continue to come into the charity on a daily basis and there are currently another 12 children in Hampshire who are waiting for equipment totalling £15,634.
The charity guarantees that 100 per cent of money donated to the Newlife Hampshire Fund will be spent on specialist equipment for children in the county.
Pictured: Stacie Stroud
Web: https://newlifecharity.co.uk
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