Northamptonshire mum raises funds to help son with cerebral palsy gain independence

A Northamptonshire mum is raising money to buy her teenage son a wheelchair enabling him to go out alone.

Oliver Barnes was born at 31-weeks and later found to have white matter brain damage, which caused cerebral palsy. Since then, he has undergone physiotherapy and surgery to help with his mobility issues.

But the now 13-year-old from Daventry has found walking more tiring and painful as he’s got older, and often needs to use his wheelchair.

The chair is provided by the NHS and too heavy for Oliver to use on his own, meaning he’s missing out on trips to the shops, cinema and even his friend’s house without someone to push him.

Now mum Hannah is trying to raise the £4,000 needed to buy Oliver an active, lightweight wheelchair so he can start to enjoy outings with his friends.

She said: “I am hoping for help to get Ollie a chair so he can be like his friends and actually gain some real independence.

“He currently has an NHS wheelchair, but he is unable to be independent in it due to its weight, making it far too much of a challenge to self-propel. On top of that, he has now outgrown it.

“Currently, Ollie has never been able to leave the house without someone with him if he's using his wheelchair.”

The NHS offered a replacement, but Hannah says it was too big and still not one Oliver could push himself.

She has so-far raised £1,060 towards the £4,000 target, with the cost covering the chair and customisation to ensure it supports Oliver’s needs.

Hannah added: "What we have been offered for his next NHS wheelchair is something he still wouldn't be able to self-propel and be independent in.

“Unfortunately, NHS funding doesn't cover the specific lightweight model he needs to truly thrive.

“We are trying to raise the money to cover the cost of the active wheelchair and the necessary custom fittings to ensure it supports his posture and daily needs perfectly.

“Every single donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to giving Ollie the independence he so richly deserves.”

Visit www.gofundme.com/f/lets-help-get-ollie-bionic-mobile to donate or find out more.