Salop Leisure staff raise money for severely disabled boy
Staff at award-winning caravan dealership Salop Leisure have been thanked by the mum of a severely disabled 10-year-old boy for raising £1,200 towards mobility equipment for him.
Lisa Vickers and her son, Daniel, have paid a visit to the company’s headquarters at Emstrey, Shrewsbury to say a personal thank you.
It was the beaming smile and spirit of Daniel, who cannot walk, talk or sit up, that prompted staff to support a £10,000 fundraising campaign to buy him a special walking device and powered wheelchair.
Complications at birth left Daniel with cerebral palsy and severely disabled but a recent move to Treloar School, Alton, Hampshire has seen him make remarkable progress, said his father, Stuart Edwards, motorhome sales specialist at Salop Leisure.
The specialist residential school provides education, care, therapy, medical support and independence training to young people with physical disabilities from all over the UK and overseas.
“Treloar School does fantastic work and since Daniel went there about a year ago, he has learned to communicate by eye pointing, using his head and switching to access voice output computer,” said Stuart, who lives in Four Crosses, near Welshpool. “He is one of the happiest children you could ever wish to meet, always smiling.”
Lisa, who is originally from Ellesmere but now lives in Maidenhead, has so far managed to raise £6,000, including a £3,000 donation from The Prince Philip Trust Fund for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Because the powerised chair is made up of different sections, she hopes to be able to start buying the parts early in 2012.
“Dan thinks it’s fantastic,” said Lisa. “His little face is bright and he doesn’t let things get him down. He is doing really well at Treloar School, which has done so much to teach him to use his chair, which he operates through a series of switches in the headrest.
“I am completely and utterly overwhelmed by everybody’s generosity and support. The team at Salop Leisure have been superb. They knew Dan when he was a little lad and it makes me feel very humble that they still think of him and are willing to support him all these years later.”
Stuart echoed his ex-wife’s comments and thanked his colleagues at Salop Leisure for their “fantastic” support.
To raise the £1,200, Stuart’s workmate Brooke Morgan, who works in holiday home after sales, did a 6,000 metre sponsored swim, staff organised raffles and a generous an anonymous donor gave £200 after reading about Dan in a local newspaper.
