Special chair for Keith will bring a quality of life he’s never had

Family plea for help to buy £9k kit

Time is of the essence. We only have a short time left with Keith

THE parents of a quadriplegic schoolboy are having to raise money for a specialist wheelchair to give him the “quality of life he has never had”.

Keith Watson, eight, needs a £9,000 electric wheelchair but has been told he won’t get State help to buy it.

Keith, who is one of 10 siblings, suffers from cerebral palsy and scoliosis. The Parkview Special School pupil who lives near Dromore, Co Down, is described as having “life-limiting and complex needs”.

A bespoke electric wheelchair would allow Keith freedom of movement and independence but it is not available on the NHS.

Occupational Therapists in England can write a letter to authorise £2,000 towards a chair but this is not the case in Northern Ireland.

His mum Cathy said: “Keith gets frustrated because he just wants to join in and do things and be mobile and at the moment he can’t.

“His playtime is lying on the floor on his back surrounded by toys – the chair will bring him a whole new quality of life that he has never had.

“But time is of the essence, we know

DROMORE, CO DOWN, YESTERDAY

that we have a short amount of time left with Keith and we want to make sure that we give him quality time not just a quantity of time.”

The couple have already received £3,000 from Artana Young Farmers.

Cathy said: “When we heard about the £3,000 we cried. We were touched that Keith’s story had touched so many.”

Information on other fundraising events for Keith is available on Facebook Kreations 4 Keith and Wheels for Keith.