Member Article

New wheelchair for five-year-old Isabel as fundraising efforts increase

Jarrow-based UTS Engineering has donated £4,230 for the purchase of a wheelchair for five-year-old Isabel Freeman.

Isabel, who lives in Bath with parents, Iain and Karen Freeman, was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 2, a life-limiting condition that progressively destroys lower motor neurons-nerve cells in the brain stem and spinal cord that control essential voluntary muscle activity such as speaking, walking, breathing and swallowing.

As a full-time wheelchair user, Isabel will need to have major surgery this year as her condition has caused her to have severe scoliosis. Her parents have been told she cannot have the operation until their house has been adapted. They have been granted £30,000 from Bath Council and have £10,000 in savings but need to raise a further £15,000.

Iain Freeman, said: “We are extremely grateful to UTS Engineering for gifting us the money to purchase a wheelchair for Isabel. All we want to do is keep Isabel as mobile as possible so that she can get around by herself and play with her friends. Any parent will agree that their child’s happiness is the most important thing in the world and we will continue to do all we can to make sure Isabel’s future is a bright one.

“I am fortunate to have an excellent employer, Bridges (Electrical Engineers), who allowed me to contact our suppliers to ask for their support. UTS Engineering responded straight away and asked what they could do to help.

“We have been making adaptations to our home since we found out about Isabel’s condition four years ago but it is now imperative that we fully modify our house so that Isabel can have her surgery. We currently either use a hoist or carry Isabel around the house but following the operation we will not be allowed to lift her for twelve months. A close friend of ours set up a go fund me page which, alongside various raffles, has raised £4,000 in just five weeks but we still need a further £11,000. The support that we have received from people and companies such as UTS Engineering is truly heart-warming and as a family we cannot express how much it means to us.”

UTS Engineering is the leading supplier of pipework to the UK utilities sector and its products and services are predominantly called upon when its customers are maintaining or carrying out emergency work to their pipe infrastructure.

Shaun Sadler, managing director, UTS Engineering, said: “Isabel is an amazingly brave little girl and we were more than happy to do what we could to help. She has faced more than most people do in their entire lives at such a young age and yet she is constantly smiling.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by UTS Engineering .