Joy as Jason gets his £4,000 wheels
AFAMILY has said a massive thank you after fundraisers clubbed together to buy a disabled boy an adapted bike for Christmas.
The two-person trike, costing more than £4,700, will allow Broadfield Specialist School pupil Jason Hencher, 12, to gain exercise which could extend his life and allow him to play outside with his brothers and sisters.
The ‘Jason’s Friends’ appeal was supported by Globe Bullough Park FC - where Jason’s stepdad coaches the under-15s - through raffles and other fundraisers, while junior players have even donated their football boots.
Jason, from Church, received the amazing present this week, to the delight of mum and stepdad Louise and Andrew Whitaker, and siblings Kira, 18, Molly, 16, Jake and Sophie, both 14, and Sam and Katie, both 12.
Louise, who also plays for Globe Bullough’s mums’ team, began making decorations to sell, before club vice chairman Amanda Clegg and chairman Wayne Roberts helped get the appeal going.
Andrew, 41, said: “It really touched everybody involved in the club and gained so much momentum. These kids heard about Jason and started approaching the parents saying they want to raise money.”
Full-time carers Andrew and Louise also thanked Emma Wilson, Barbara Thompson, Perfect Plaice, Winfields, and Cockerham Sands Caravan Park for their support.
The exercise Jason will get from the bike will help strengthen his muscles to cope with growing as he gets older, helping him to avoid becoming wheelchair-dependant in later life, and improving his life expectancy.
Louise, 40, said the bike has had special wheels and straps added for Jason, who was born prematurely and diagnosed as a baby with a chromosome abnormality affecting his brain function and physical development.
She said: “It’s a really brilliant bike. It’s nice because anyone can get on the bike with him, including his sisters and brothers.
“He likes the security of having you by his side. We can sit at the side of him so we are both pedalling.
“He can either pedal or we can switch it off so he doesn’t have to. When he’s outdoors he cannot walk very far so he’s in a wheelchair and doesn’t get to experience the outdoors.
“It will be good for him and will improve the quality of his life.” To donate search ‘Jason Andrew Whitaker crowdfunding’ on www.justgiving.com.