Thomas on the move with Kingswinford & Stourbridge Lions

We don’t very often publish any of our fund raising or the donations we make, but on this occasion we thought it would be good to share our joy at assisting Thomas, a three year old, with his mobility. Twins Thomas and Harry Gardener were born prematurely at 25 weeks, Thomas weighing 1lb 9 oz and Harry weighing 1lb 2oz. The first six months of their lives were spent in the special baby care unit at Wordsley Hospital Stourbridge.

Lion Graham Foster met his mother and Thomas for the first time at Christmas when we were raising fund for him in a local shopping centre. Lion Graham noticed that his wheelchair was too big and heavy for him to use independently. He suggested that we may be able to buy a lightweight chair at a significant discount as he had a manufacturer contact, if Rachel, his mother, could meet the balance.

Harry has problems but Thomas was starved of oxygen and was diagnosed with Quadriplegic Spastic/Athetoid Palsy. The Education Department are aiming to send Thomas, now aged four years, to mainstream school later this year and his mobility needed to be improved so that he can take part more effectively in the classroom and the life of the school.

Immediate Past President Arthur Peakman found his key to the treasure and recommended that we should donate the full cost of the wheelchair for Thomas of approximately £1000.00.

Thomas’s parents Rachael & Malcolm Gardener were overwhelmed with our donation and said ‘this generous donation will make him feel included in the life and the fun of the school and will enable him to be outside with the other children and move around the playground. We cannot adequately express our sincere thanks to the Lion Club for providing this most useful piece of equipment for Thomas at this time’.

K&S Lions had earlier also donated to the cost of installing a lift for Thomas to be transported to his bedroom at their home. Lion Richard Styles was instrumental in the raising of the funds for the lift together with all the other Lion Members and our helpers.