March Appeal for Samantha

 

At just eight years old, Samantha has already overcome huge challenges in her life. She has cerebral palsy and is developing scoliosis - a serious back problem - which must be addressed. We need to buy her a ‘Hippo' powered wheelchair, to avoid further curving of her spine as she begins to grow up.

The powered wheelchair with the right features for Samantha will cost £8,110. If you could send a gift today, you will be helping to bring real independence into this brave little girl's life.

Samantha lives with devoted grandparents Carole and Steve (whom she calls ‘Nanny' and ‘Grumps') and she attends a mainstream primary school in London. She is a particularly bright girl and has gained a C2 score in her SATs, so clearly she has every chance of achieving a bright future.

Carole describes Samantha as a "tomboy" with "huge determination". However because Samantha cannot move herself around in her old wheelchair, she is unable to go onto the playground at school. She finds this deeply frustrating and upsetting, watching from a distance as the other children play, while she has to wait to be pushed around.

Samantha's school reports always mention her lack of socialising with class mates. How can this little girl develop real friendships and have her playmates relax around her, when there is always a teacher present, standing over her, waiting to push her around in her old manual wheelchair?

With your help, we can give Samantha her first real chance to integrate properly at school, moving around independently in a powered wheelchair, socialising and making friends. This will undoubtedly change her life forever.

Samantha is particularly interested in all things mechanical and she is passionate about Formula 1 motor racing and other kinds of motor sport. She would very much like to be involved in mechanics or engineering when she grows up - and even at this young age she is determined to overcome any barriers.

It is particularly important that we get her this wheelchair quickly, before her back problem becomes worse. Action For Kids, through a broad range of work, maintains a long-term involvement with children and families who we've helped, particularly with powered wheelchairs. This means we will make sure Samantha's chair is maintained properly and adjusted appropriately so it continues to support her back as she grows up. In this way and in so many others, the powered wheelchair will also have a massive, lifelong positive effect.

Click here to make a donation for Samantha's wheelchair.