Wheelchair joy for Emmy

The Standard told you last week of Emmy Wharton’s plight to get her own wheelchair after health authorities turned her down.

Eco Scooters, on Church Street, read about her appeal and immediately rushed to her aid - presenting Emmy with her new wheelchair on Monday.

Emmy, of Redcote Residential Home, said she touched so many people have come forward with offers of help since we published her appeal.

“The wheelchair is very nice and comfortable and it’s very kind of Eco Scooters to donate one to me,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to be able to visit my son in his new home. I don’t get out very often so it’ll be lovely to get out and about more.”

She added: “It just shows how kind people can be and I think they need to do more to help one another.”

Redcote Residential Home was inundated with offers for help following last week’s article - from wheelchair donations to fundraising events.

Millbrook Healthcare refused Redcote’s application for four wheelchairs - meaning its 27 residents have to share the seven the home currently have in stock.

Eco Scooters managing director John Malvern said he was only too happy they could be of assistance.

“When we read Emmy’s story we wanted to do something to help. We do a lot of charity work in the community and it was great to able to help her out,” she said.

John said he was happy to team up with Standard readers to help provide even more wheelchairs for Redcote’s residents.

“A lot of people have old NHS chairs they no longer need - now is the time to get rid of them and do something good for the community,” he said.

“If anybody has an old wheelchair they no longer want or need, just bring it to our Gainsborough shop and we will service and re-condition them in our workshop before donating them to the home.”

Care home manager Jane Green said she was taken aback by the level of reaction from members of the public and local businesses who all wanted to lend a hand to Emmy’s cause.

“I was really surprised and touched to see how many people came forward,” she said.

“Gainsborough House offered to lend us a wheelchair and Boots the Chemists wanted to hold a fundraising event to help buy her a chair.”

She added: “At the end of the day it wasn’t so much about the cost for Emmy - it was about the principle about being denied a wheelchair.”

“She spoke her mind and it just shows what that can do. She’s a truly inspirational lady.”

“It’s great for us because we’ll be able to take even more residents out now. My thanks go to everyone who has come forward to help us.”

Gainsborough Standard editor Chris Burton said Emmy’s success story showed the power of local media in highlighting community issues.

“We at the Standard pride ourselves on doing all we can to serve the local community. Just like many of our readers, we were deeply saddened and shocked to our about Emmy’s plight,” he said.

“It’s a real pleasure for us to be able to facilitate getting Emmy the help she needs to live more independently.”

He added: “Many people are reluctant to speak about injustice as they feel it won’t change the situation,” he said.

“Yet Emmy wasn’t afraid to speak out and stick up for what she believes in. She deserves to be congratulated and our thanks go to the team at Eco Scooters for their generous help.”

Anyone who would like to donate a wheelchair is asked to call into Eco Scooters on Church Street, Gainsborough, or ring 01427 677555.