Last updated at 14:06, Wednesday, 27 April 2011

A MAN with cerebral palsy has been given a new lease of life with the help of a new wheelchair funded by the Furness community.

A state-of-the-art powered wheelchair has allowed Dean Stridgeon, 30, to enjoy more freedom and independence since he got it.

The £10,500 chair is fitted with its own table, can be moved into a recline position to allow Mr Stridgeon to sleep, and has height-adjusting features which make it easier for him in social situations.

His mother, Ann Mallinson, launched a fundraising drive with the help of Cumbria Cerebral Palsy last year, as Mr Stridgeon’s old chair was in need of replacing and the one offered by the NHS did not meet his needs.

Local organisations including Furness Lions and Barrow Rotary made donations to help pay for the new chair, while national funders including Equipment for Independent Living also contributed.

It took around a year to raise the cash needed and Mr Stridgeon got the wheelchair just before Christmas.

Ms Mallinson said: “The only chair they were able to offer within the NHS budget was not steady enough, so that is when we started to look at raising the money for this one ourselves.

“I got in touch with Judith Stewart at Cumbria Cerebral Palsy and between us we raised the money.

“He loved it straight away. He can adjust the legs so he can sleep in the day. He could never do that before.

“The chair raises so that if he is at a bar he can come up to other people’s height and he can access his own cupboards.

“Everything is built-to-spec. It has to be, to warrant the cost.”

Mr Stridgeon has also found the chair has enabled him to enjoy his favourite pastime, walking his dog, Honey, more than ever.

He said: “It gives me more independence.”

Ms Mallinson sent out a message of thanks to everyone who made it possible for her son to get the powered wheelchair.

She said: “At the beginning I never thought we would do it, but everybody pulled together to help.

“It was absolutely brilliant.”

First published at 13:07, Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk