Member Article

Retailer donates to charity garden project

A flooring retailer has teamed up with a national charity to ensure a young girl with a rare genetic disorder has a swinging time.

Flooring Superstore has donated £300 worth of artificial grass for a project to make an accessible garden for 11-year-old Noor, who has Mitochondrial Disease.

The turf is ideal for wheelchair access and for the area underneath the adapted swing which is to become a central feature of the new look garden at Noor’s family home in Slough.

The garden project is the work of the Charlie Gard Foundation, a support and research charity for sufferers of Mitochondrial diseases - long-term, genetic disorders that are life limiting with very few treatments and currently no cure.

The charity’s Head of Fundraising, Stephanie Roundsworth, said: “Unfortunately many parks are inaccessible to wheelchair users and families can quite often have to travel some distance to use one.

“We are extremely grateful to Flooring Superstore for this turf. We fund projects like this through public donations, so any free equipment, supplies or labour means that money can be spent elsewhere. This garden project would have cost £70,000 but thanks to donations it will came in at around 10-12k.

Stephanie added: “Caring for a child with Mitochondrial is a 24/7 job so gardening often gets neglected. This project will transform what was an almost inaccessible back garden into a space where Noor can play, relax and feel safe with her family.”

With work being led by David Strows from Artform landscapes, the garden includes an adapted swing that allows Noor to either be pushed on her own or to have a friend sitting alongside so they can both enjoy a swing together.

The “Miami” artificial turf donated is ideal because it looks like a perfect lush lawn and is tough enough to withstand wheelchairs and swing users.

Ian Robinson, Flooring Superstore Regional Manager, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to support the Charlie Gard Foundation on this project to help Noor and her family.

“Artificial grass is perfect for play areas as it’s hard-wearing and soft, so it will mean Noor will be able to play safely in her garden.”

The donation of grass came from the Flooring Superstore outlet on the Trade City Retail Park in Bracknell.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Neil Shaefer .