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Fashion store fundraisers
help disabled 8 year old get specialist help
FABULOUS fundraisers at the River
Island fashion store in Chapel Street, Southport, have helped a local disabled
girl get the specialist equipment she needs to keep her safe.
A specialist travel harness is now making a world of difference to car journeys
for the family of 8 year old Lucy Taylor, from Walton.
Lucy has Autistic Spectrum Disorder and learning disabilities; and no awareness
of danger. She has a booster seat for journeys, but she could undo her safety
harness and bounce around the car.
Dad Colin Taylor said:- "Whenever we were driving we would find her arms
around our shoulders so an adult would always have to sit in the back of the car
with her. On one occasion we were driving down the Motorway to Blackpool, to see
the lights when she got out of her seat and the other people in the car couldn't
persuade her to get back in. There was merry hell going on behind me and I just
couldn't risk that happening again.
Lucy's support worker told us about specialist secure harnesses, and we were
advised to contact Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children for help with
funding."
Newlife is the UK's largest charity provider of specialist equipment for
children with disabilities and terminal illness; and with funding support from
the Chapel Street River Island store it delivered the ?545 harness just in time
for the recent school holidays.
Colin added:- "It's been a huge help. Lucy is happy wearing the harness
and, because she can't get out of it, everyone's safety is improved. It's even
possible now for 1 person to take her out in the car on their own."
River Island's Chapel Street store manager Natalie Dyer said:- "The staff
really got behind the fundraising activities for Newlife; it shows the
camaraderie and work ethic at the store. We organised cake sales and staff
donated a prize for a 'guess the number of sweets in the jar' competition for
customers; we also dressed up and had a bucket collection. It was really lovely
and it has been a real pleasure raising the funds for Newlife, a charity which
River Island has been associated with for many years. And it's a real boost to
the staff to know how their efforts are directly benefitting a local disabled
child."
Newlife provided the harness through its Equipment Grants service. The charity
also works with families to offer Emergency Equipment Loans, often within 72
hours of an application being made, a Play Therapy Pod service for those with
complex needs and Comfort Capsules so families of terminally ill children can
make memories together.
Newlife has supported 608 disabled and terminally ill children across
Merseyside, with equipment totalling ?556,885. If you would like to find out
more about how the charity helps local families to go
online.
Newlife guarantees that 100% of monies donated or fundraised in Merseyside will
be used to specifically help local children with disabilities and terminal
illness.
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