Birthday gift of a lifetime

A children’s charity desperately wants support to help the birthday wish of a disabled footie fanatic come true. 

Eleven-year-old Alex Grice from Nantwich has Cerebral Palsy Quadriplegia, a condition that affects his mobility and means he requires a wheelchair for his day to day needs.  He currently has a manual chair, but has to rely on his parents to push him everywhere including on and off the football pitch!

 

In time for his 12^th Birthday in March, Caudwell Children is campaigning to help buy a specialist Spectra Powerchair worth £5,500, which will allow Alex to do things he is so desperate to do for the very first time. This will include being able to be part of his footie team, Cheshire Blades, independently. Cheshire Blades is a football club based in Shavington, which has provisions for both able bodied and disabled children.

 

Mum, Linda Grice, said “For him to be able to join in on his own without having to be pushed would be a dream come true for Alex. It opens up a whole world of opportunity for him and us as a family.

 

At the minute Alex has to rely on us to help him join in or rely on someone to push him if he wants to spend time with his sisters.”

 

Parents Linda and Stephen hope people will understand the importance of the fundraising campaign.

 

Mrs Grice, added “At the moment Alex can’t go out on his own and do normal things like go to the shops with friends. We live in a rural area and getting out in the chair he currently has is almost impossible.

 

Naturally, he wants to spend more time with friends and go places without having to rely on mum and dad to push him, but this comes at a high price.”

 

Following extensive surgery to rebuild his hip three years ago, the Hebden Green pupil has had to become completely reliant on a wheelchair. Having a powerchair will give Alex more freedom and independence.

 

Mrs Grice added “He desperately wants to spend time with friends and he is excited at the thought of being able to do things his friends do without having his parents to push him around.

 

It’s frustrating for us knowing he is restricted by the equipment he has and the cost of getting new equipment like this powerchair so he can have increased confidence and independence.”

 

Caudwell Children provide direct donations of treatment, therapy and equipment for sick and disabled children throughout the UK. Vital fundraising takes place throughout the year to provide youngsters like Alex with life changing equipment.

 

Trudi Beswick is the CEO of Caudwell Children, she said: “The family contacted the Charity after being made aware of the work we do and we are now eager to help aid Alex’s progress and make this Birthday wish for him and his family that extra bit special, by providing him with an appropriate wheelchair.

 

 A chair such as this costs over £5,000 and we are asking kind-hearted members of the local community to help us provide this life-changing equipment by contributing to the fundraising or by holding their own Charity event. 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.”

  

Mrs Grice added “Without charities like Caudwell Children something like this would be completely out of the question and definitely could not be done for Alex.”

 

Anybody wishing to help raise funds for Alex’s appeal are urged to contact the Charity immediately on 01782 600844 or visit http://www.justgiving.com/AlexGrice

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 the charity 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!