Ethos Public Relations Manchester

Stand-up chair helps fulfil dreams

by Ethos public relations

A 20-year-old, paralysed after a car accident, has received a new stand-up wheelchair thanks to the support of national charity Action For Kids.

David Follett, from Exeter, was hit by a car as he walked along Exmouth seafront over two years ago leaving him unable to move from the chest down. He suffers from severe muscle spasms in his legs and needs to regularly move them to get rid of the pain.

The new stand-up wheelchair will now not only help David to control the spasms, but it will also mean he will have better mobility and greater independence as he starts a course in Coaching and Fitness at Exeter College.

David, also a member of Devon Racketeers, a wheelchair badminton club located just outside of Exeter, regularly plays in tournaments and is about to compete in the Four Nations Badminton Series taking place in Dublin.

"I'm really looking forward to representing England at the tournament and competing at such a high level," said David. "I love badminton and want to go on to teach it to other young people in the future, so this new chair will really help me achieve my dream.

"The new chair has made a massive difference already, because it does really help to control the spasms in my legs, and makes it much easier for me when I am out and about."

Disability charity Action For Kids provided over £5,000 for the LEVO stand-up wheelchair, which will help grant more efficient cardiovascular activity, improve posture and relieve sitting pressure.

Not only does the charity provide disabled young people, up to the age of 26, with specialist mobility equipment, but it also provides an on-going maintenance program to keep wheelchairs working.

The equipment, which is provided on a permanent loan scheme, means that Action for Kids covers the cost of maintaining and servicing wheelchairs, and now the charity also provides maintenance on privately-owned wheelchairs.

Sally Bishop, Founder of Action For Kids said: "We're always pleased to help support young people like David. We know that the new chair will offer him fantastic physical and emotional benefits and we look forward to hearing how he?s getting on over the next few months."

To find out more about Action For Kids and its work, visit www.actionforkids.org.

Posted at 17^th November 2009