A 12-year-old young boy is embracing new independence thanks to a specialist manual wheelchair funded by Variety, the Children’s Charity.
George Tappenden lives with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) type two, a condition that weakens every muscle in the body. Thanks to Variety’s fundraising, George received a £10,000 manual wheelchair, a vital piece of equipment for his independence and physical development.
Since receiving the chair, George has enjoyed hobbies like boxing, drumming and gaming.
George said: “Thank you to Variety for the manual chair, which has helped me with my independence and strengthened my upper body to help with my boxing.”
Now a Variety ambassador, George has spoken at events including the Midlands PROPs Awards, London PROPs Awards and the Variety Chairman’s Reception.
Lucy Frost, George’s Mum said “People often assume a wheelchair just replaces legs, but for George, SMA affects every muscle, including his arms. That’s why a manual chair is so important to maintain what strength he has.”
Lucy also praised Variety for their personal, family focused approach: “What I really appreciate about Variety is the speed and care in the application process. We’re often treated as numbers, but they made us feel like a family.
“Donations like George’s wheelchair take so much pressure off already stressed families. The cost of equipment is high and having the right chair can mean the difference between your child’s health deteriorating or not.”
Lyn Staunton, Development Director at Variety, said “We’re incredibly proud to have supported George on his journey towards independence. Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive and specialist equipment like this is truly life-changing for both the young person and their family. George is an incredible ambassador and inspiration to us all.”
Variety, the Children’s Charity helps children across the UK access vital equipment and live more independently. To donate or find out more, visit https://www.variety.org.uk/
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