Charity launches appeal to help Devon children in urgent need

Newlife Foundation, the UK’s leading charity provider of equipment for children with disabilities, is urgently appealing for help so children in Devon can receive the equipment they need.

Right now there are 11 children with disabilities or terminal illness in Devon who are at risk of worsening pain, injury or their condition deteriorating – while their families are placed under additional pressure. They need your help to get the specialist equipment that will really change their lives.

Newlife has already helped 240 children in Devon, spending £377,797, but the charity has seen a 25 per cent increase in applications this year compared to last year and has no budget at this time to help meet the needs of these 11 children.

Newlife needs to raise £17,869 in Devon to help children like four-year-old Gracie who has learning disabilities and needs a special bed to keep her safe at night as she is currently sleeping in a high street cot and can potentially climb out. That’s why the charity launched the Newlife Devon fund www.newlifecharity.co.uk/devon.

Newlife guarantees 100% of any donation or funds raised will be used to help children within the county receive the equipment they need for everyday life.

Equipment has the power to change lives, just like Ricky-Lee Blight and their family: Four-year-old Ricky-Lee, who has Autism, is much happier now he has a special buggy of his own to get into for comfort whenever he finds the world around him too overwhelming and distressing.

The Blight family from Plymouth were walking Ricky-Lee to his school, Millford Special Education School in Ernsettle, but although he can manage short distances on tip-toe, he often falls over. He also has no sense of danger and will wander off or drop to the floor and refuse to move if he feels overwhelmed.

Because of his autism Ricky-Lee has a strict routine and doesn’t like busy environments, so he doesn’t engage in many social activities although he does like visiting relatives.

Mum Stacie said: “When Ricky-Lee doesn’t like being somewhere he will hide. He used to get under his blanket in his buggy and he used to eat his lunch in there at school.

“You can see Ricky-Lee feels much safer. He’s able to control himself better when he’s in the buggy. We are really thankful for the help, it was so quick and I can see Ricky-Lee is so much happier.”

Equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, beds, seating and communication aids can help give children independence, keep them safe, relieve pain and overcome challenges. For instance you could help a child be discharged from hospital, take their first steps or kick a football with their friends.

Helping children with disabilities or terminal illness couldn’t be easier.

Simply log on to www.newlifecharity.co.uk/devon and click ‘donate now’. You could take part in a local sporting challenge, organise a ‘sparkle party’ (we can tell you how!), if you are crafty you can make and sell items for Newlife, bake cakes or do something wacky – like sit in a bath of baked beans or jump out of a plane! If you know of a local business, company, society, that could help then please let them know about Newlife – and that we need their help.

Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children CEO Sheila Brown, OBE, said: “Many of the children waiting are experiencing pain, isolation and a lack of independence which affects their quality of life. That’s why we are asking local people to help their local children.”

For more information about how to donate or raise funds please contact Nathan by email at nramsden@newlifecharity.co.uk or call 01543 462777.