More cash needed to put boy in the chair

CARING villagers are appealing for help to raise £1,400 for a new wheelchair for a 13-year-old boy.Bleadon Country Sports Show's management committee promised to donate all the cash from its show in September towards a new customised wheelchair for teenager Jonathan Broadfield. Organisers raised £2,000 from the sporting event and Weston Rotary Club is kindly donating £1,000 but the fund-raisers are still £1,400 short.Jonathan, of Grenville Avenue, Locking, suffers from quadriplegic cerebral palsy and needs a powered outdoor wheelchair to help him get around.Committee secretary Alison Hillyer said: "We raised £2,000, which we understood was going to be the price of the chair, but when Jonathan was assessed it turned out that the chair he requires is going to cost £4,400. We are currently asking around to see if we can get the balance from other groups and businesses."It's a specialist piece of equipment so Jonathan can be completely independent."Jonathan has needed a wheelchair all his life and currently has one which is only suitable for indoor use. If he wants to go outside his friends have to push him around.Jonathan's mother, Kim, said: "The wheelchair will mean more independence for him. He's got a powered chair at the moment but it's big and bulky and doesn't fit in my car and he can't use it outside."It was a wonderful surprise when we found out the show would be raising money for Jonathan. We had been trying to think of ways to get a new wheelchair for him."He's tried one out and he went off down the street like a shot. He loved it."The management committee has already ordered the chair and members are hoping the money will come in so Jonathan can get out and about as soon as possible.Anyone wishing to donate to the cause can call Alison on 01934 815407.