Thanks to CHIPS Charity and the joint fundraising efforts of customers and staff at Cashino in Halifax, 9-year-old Ruby Carpenter has been presented with a new powered wheelchair, which will give her more independence and freedom.
Cashino, which operates 165 adult gaming centres 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.
Violet, who lives in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire with her dad, Ben, grandma, Rita, and four siblings has multiple congenital abnormalities, learning disabilities and epilepsy.
Ruby’s dad, Ben, said: “Unfortunately, Ruby doesn’t qualify for a wheelchair on the NHS, as she is able to walk around the home albeit with extreme difficulty. When she does use her wheelchair she hasn’t the strength to move it herself, meaning she has to rely on someone to push her around when she is out of the house and this is impacting on her independence.
Ben continued “Despite her wide range of physical, sensory and learning needs she is incredibly determined and motivated to adapt and cope with the challenges she faces. This powered wheelchair will make a huge difference to our lives, not only by giving her the independence she craves but also meaning we can spend more time outdoors as a family. We’re so thankful to CHIPS and Cashino for this wheelchair.”
Cashino Halifax venue manager, Claire, said: “It’s such a proud moment to know that our fundraising efforts are going to make such a huge difference to Ruby and her family’s life. She’s such a lovely girl who thoroughly deserves this powered 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 £2.7 million to date and presented almost 600 wheelchairs to children throughout the UK.
