A COMMUNITY effort has helped raise enough money to buy Westbury girl Josselin Tilley a new wheelchair.
Five-year-old Josselin Tilley who has CHARGE syndrome requiring round-the-clock care, has outgrown her current wheelchair after four years.
Westbury Wheelers Cycling Club and Westbury Run England group joined together in a challenge to ascend the height of Everest by adding up cumulative ascents of the White Horse on Friday 30th November. Having completed the challenge, a raffle followed in the Lopes Arms and further pledges have raised the total of the event to £1,085.
Funds had already been raised by a music night with live bands, raffle, and silent auction at White Horse Country Park in November, bringing the total to the target of £2,450.
It will take around 12 weeks for Josselin to get her new chair, as it has to be made in Germany to fit her specifications.
Josselin’s father Lee explained, “Basically she has outgrown this one. She’s got taller and put on weight and her feet are nearly touching the floor. We need a better size, but apart from that it will be the same – it has to be very light to enable her to wheel it herself. And this one will also be pink – she loves pink!
“Thank you to all those who have supported us – without them this would never have happened.”
Sean Price, event director for the Everest Challenge, said, “It’s nice we could do something to help in our community – everyone’s seen Joss out and about. And so many people have said they had a ball doing it!”
