A FUND-RAISING appeal to help improve the life of an eight-year-old boy from a Malvern village has received a major boost following the Malvern Observer’s front page splash earlier this year.
In October the Observer reported the parents of Jack Cross from Leigh had launched a campaign to fundraise for a life-changing chair which will make him feel more comfortable at home and on his travels.
Jack has microcephaly – a condition associated with incomplete brain development which means he suffers with growth delay, epilepsy and hip dysplasia.
The youngster has had botox injections to loosen his muscles but is unable to relax with his family on the sofa because he leans to one side, meaning the only safe place he can sit down in is in his rigid seating system.
Jack, who goes to Fort Royal Community Primary School in Worcester, can only tolerate his seat for short periods and leading charity for disabled children Newlife Foundation joined the family’s aid in their bid to raise more than £1,400 for a specialist seat to improve Jack’s life.
And since the story appeared on the front page in our edition dated Wednesday, October 26 – hundreds of pounds have been donated to Jack’s cause, meaning he is well on the way to getting the new chair.
Following our story local heroes in Worcestershire have donated £424 towards a special seat called a PPod – taking the fund-raising target past the halfway mark after Newlife had already raised £487 towards the equipment which costs £1,461.
Our front page on October 26 featuring Jack’s appeal
It now means Jack’s family just need a further £550 to buy the chair which will enable him to enjoy his hobbies of reading, listening to music and playing instruments in more comfort.
Jack’s mum Lynette Ching said: “Jack’s rigid seat keeps him secure and safe but does not offer him any comfort.
“It’s so upright it leaves him with no room to relax. He is in his seating system for most of the day so having a place to sit in comfort with the rest of the family is very important.
“With a PPod, Jack will be able to join in with the rest of the family. What’s good about the chair he needs is that it has wheels so we would be able to transfer him easily to wherever we are in the house.”
To support Jack, visit http://tinyurl.com/h76nlf2.
