Thanks to CHIPS Charity and the joint fundraising efforts of customers and staff at Beacon Bingo in Northampton, 6-year-old Phoebe Justice has been presented with a new lightweight wheelchair, which will give her more independence and the chance to spend more time outdoors with family and friends.
Beacon Bingo, which operates in five locations across the country, is one of the main fundraisers for CHIPS, a charity set up on behalf of the casino and gaming industry, which provides specialised wheelchairs for children with severe mobility problems.
Phoebe, who lives in Bugbrooke, Northants with her parents, Louise and Andy, and brother, Jamie, suffers with Cerebral Palsy, as does her brother. The condition means Phoebe suffers with muscular weakness and tightness.
Phoebe’s mum, Louise, said: “Unfortunately, Phoebe doesn’t qualify for a wheelchair on the NHS, even though she struggles with walking which impacts on her lifestyle and outdoor activities. In particular school and family trips outdoors were becoming more difficult for her and as she is older know she was becoming more aware which caused a social impact too. This lightweight wheelchair will make a huge difference to her life. Having two children in wheelchairs limits our ability to be as active as we would like, but thanks to this amazing gift we will be able to spend more time as a family doing what we love and getting out and about! We’re so thankful to CHIPS and Beacon Bingo for this wheelchair.”
Beacon Bingo Northampton venue manager, Gary Holmes, said: “It’s such a proud moment to know that our fundraising efforts are going to make such a huge difference to Phoebe and her family’s life. She’s such a lovely girl who thoroughly deserves this lightweight wheelchair.”
One of the co-founders of CHIPS charity Linda Lindsay said: “It is so important for CHIPS that our donors see the results of their hard work, and we try to ensure that all the recipients are local to where the funds have been raised. Cashino and parent company Praesepe have been amazing, and have donated £1.2 million allowing CHIPS to provide more than 150 wheelchairs up and down the country.”
In total CHIPS has raised more than £2.2 million to date and presented over 520 wheelchairs to children throughout the UK.
