Help Toby get the wheels he needs

A fundraising appeal has been launched in Dorset, to help provide a state of the art wheelchair for a disabled youngster. Poole teenager, Toby Edmondson, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD); a rare genetic condition that causes rapid muscle deterioration and weakness.  

 

Caudwell Children are campaigning to help buy Toby (13) a specialist Etac Balder F290 Powered Wheelchair worth £17,000 to help improve his independence as well as make him more comfortable. The specialist wheelchair has a function that will help him reach a standing position, allowing him to be at eye level with his friends while also relieving pressure on his internal organs and help circulate blood flow.

 

Mum, Karen Edmondson, said “As Toby gets older he is going to be more reliant on a wheelchair. The current manual chair we have is slow, heavy and restricts Toby both socially and physically. Without a fundraising campaign such as this there is no way we would be able to get this chair.

 

For Toby to be able to do things that we take for granted will mean a lot to him, like the ability to manoeuvre the chair into a standing position to brush his teeth like his sisters, take part in cookery lessons and participate in PE alongside his friends. 

 

As a teenager Toby wants his independence, but simply getting out the house is difficult. As his condition deteriorates this is going to become harder and harder. The new chair would allow Toby to make his own decisions and significantly improve his comfort as he will have the choice to move from one position to another without having to rely on someone else to do it for him.”

 

The Etac Balder Powered Wheelchair has a unique seat lift which allows users to reach obstacles on high shelves and slide their legs under the table when eating. A tilting and standing function also gives the user the option to adjust their position to suit their needs.

 

Any help is gratefully received and should we raise over the required amount the funds will be used to support another donation for a similar sick or disabled child.”

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Caudwell Children and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you!