Terrington St Clement family's appeal to help girl, 5, who is unable to walk
A West Norfolk village family has launched an appeal to support a five-year-old girl who is unable to walk.
Scarlett Cole, of Terrington St Clement, has Triplegic cerebral palsy and requires a wheelchair every day.
Her current wheelchair is in need of replacement as she has outgrown her existing one which she has had for two-and-a-half-years.
Scarlett's mother Leanne said the family is waiting for a home assessment and are on the NHS waiting list for an electric wheelchair which will be used at school.
However, the family cannot have one more than one item from the NHS so they are appealing for donations to help fund a special manual wheelchair for Scarlett, who attends Terrington St Clement Community School.
Mrs Cole said: "She is a very happy little girl and we are very lucky with her as it could be a lot more worse than it is. She is still able to go to a mainstream school, but the sides of her wheelchair are too high and there is no independence in her current one. The front wheels are too narrow. It is more of a safety thing as she has outgrown it."
The family are hoping for a special wheelchair in the region of £3,500 to £4,500 following a quote which will allow Scarlett to go to the woods and watch her brother and father's football team at Terrington Tigers FC's pitch.
Regarding the support received so far, Mrs Cole said: "It's been amazing. I set up a fundraising page last night (Wednesday) and we have raised nearly £1,000 already.
"A couple of businesses are helping with a raffle so it's doing well but there is a long way to go."
She also praised the Churchgate Way school for its support.
Mrs Cole works at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and takes her daughter to sessions at a private gym in Norwich which is one-to-one training set up by an orthopedic surgeon.
The GoFundMe page set up in aid of Scarlett states: "We have looked into a new chair and found one that is perfect. It has wide front wheels which aid standing transitions.
"It has a lower seat which will help Scarlett to have the freedom to move around herself. It even has a special wheel that can attach to the front so we can take the dog for a walk at the woods without getting stuck!
"Unfortunately we do not have the funds to purchase a wheelchair ourselves and so we are after some much needed help!"
If you would like to donate visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-scarlett-get-new-wheels.
