Ben can now travel safely
A Southport boy will be able to travel
safely in the car without endangering the lives of himself and his family thanks
to a new specialist car seat. Benjamin Pitchford-Emmett has autism as well as
learning difficulties and is waiting to be assessed for ADHD. He needs a new
specialist car seat as he had outgrown his previous seat.
The family needed the new car seat but could not find funding for the £665
purchase so they turned to leading UK children's disability charity Newlife
Foundation for help. Thanks to Newlife's partnership with The Morgan Foundation,
the equipment has been ordered.
Ben will no longer be able to escape from his car seat climbing around the car
and distracting the driver. The 5 year old has been socially isolated, but he
will be able to attend appointments and enjoy days out with his family whose
quality of life will improve.
The new car seat will enable me to drive Ben home safely, mum Judith commented.
"He will be able to fit in the new seat and I will be able to get him out
of it comfortably.
I need to take three other children on a regular journey, so Ben needs to be
secure. When we take delivery of the new car seat it will be a lot less
stressful all round."
The Morgan Foundation is working with Newlife to ensure more children with
disabilities and terminal illness get the right equipment at the right time.
This includes wheelchairs, buggies and walkers for mobility, specialist car
seats and beds for safety and a range of other disability equipment including
communication aids, walking frames, portable hoists and seating systems.
A Morgan Foundation fundraising golf day and gala dinner in support of Newlife
held last year raised £450,000 to provide vital specialist equipment
specifically for families across North Wales, Merseyside, West Cheshire, North
Shropshire and parts of the West Midlands.
Steve Morgan, chairman of The Morgan Foundation, said:- "Having a vital
aid like this means Ben will be able to travel safely and join in more
activities with his family. Everyone who took part in our golf day or attended
the gala dinner has helped; and will continue to help; make a real difference."
Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children is a national charity which works
extensively with families across the region and has funded in excess of
£12million of disability equipment for under 19's in the UK since 2005. £331,334
of this has been in Merseyside.
Newlife CEO Sheila Brown added:- "As local authority budget cuts continue
to bite, more and more families are turning to charities like Newlife so their
children can get vital equipment for everyday life. Having the support of The
Morgan Foundation is an enormous boost for Newlife.
We look forward to helping to transform more lives across The Morgan Foundation
catchment area. Anyone struggling to access equipment through their statutory
services should call our Newlife Nurse Helpline to discuss their individual
situation."
For further information about The Morgan Foundation visit the
website or call:- 01829 782800.
If you would like to find out more about Newlife Foundation for Disabled
Children and how to access its services, call the Newlife Nurse Helpline on:- 0800
902 0095 (free from UK landlines) or alternatively you can also go to:-
NewlifeCharity.Co.UK.
