Local amputee and children’s charities to bring hope to disabled Romanian children
Local charities have created a unique partnership that will see life-changing artificial limbs and wheelchairs transported from South-east England to help many child and young amputees in Romania who have little hope of receiving a prosthesis which will change their lives.
Farnborough-based Limbcare, a group that provides peer support to limb-impaired individuals and communities and which is committed to recycling and reusing prosthesis, is joining forces with Kent charity Bless The Children(UK), to send this equipment to their long-term partner ‘FundatiaTheranova’ in Oradea, Romania.
Led by Chairman Ray Edwards MBE, the UK’s longest-surviving quad amputee, Limbcare has been able to collect a large number of used prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs and walking aids through its work with local hospitals since it was founded in 2010.
Reading based full-service law firm Boyes Turner, helped bring about the encounter between Ray and Bless The Children (UK)’s Carol Marsh that led to the idea that these limbs and wheelchairs, which were sitting unused, could be used to help to Fundatia Theranova to provide low-cost prostheses to their patients.
Limbcare’s Chairman Ray Edwards MBE said: “We are delighted and proud to help in this initiative which fits clearly with Limbcare’s mission towards creating greater independence for all amputees and limb impaired people, and helping individuals improve their quality of life.”
Bless The Children (UK)’s Carol Marsh added: “Words cannot express how much joy these limbs will bring to the young people we are helping in Romania. Many have little or no hope of regaining their mobility. This simple gesture will have a major impact on their immediate and later lives.”
Carol is leading a convoy of several cars and 4x4's to Yateley, Hampshire, on Friday 10th November, to collect as many prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs and walking aids as they can. These will then be packed and shipped by road to Romania in late November.
Claire Roantree, a partner at Boyes Turner, said: “The work that Ray and Carol are doing will change lives. We’re delighted to be able to help fund the transport that will get these limbs and wheelchairs quickly to the people who need them”.
Since 2001 Bless The Children (UK) has provided 33 limbs to children and young people and sent 10 kits to be assembled in Romania. Theranova not only custom-builds and fits prosthetic limbs but also provides a full support and follow-up programme.
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• Bless The Children (UK) became a registered charity in January 1997. Its members have been working as volunteers in Romania since 1990. In 1996 they took over the Darmanesti Day Centre to provide social and practical help to the elderly, poor families with disadvantaged children and individuals living in difficult circumstances in the small rural town of Darmanesti, North-East Romania.
• Boyes Turner is one of the UK’s leading full service regional law firms. Its specialist teams are regularly ranked as amongst the best in the UK. Based in the Thames Valley with 21 Partners, over 55 other lawyers and more than 160 staff, the firm is ranked by both Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and The Legal 500 as one of the UK’s leading regional law firms and a “regional heavyweight”.
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