“It’s going to give him so much more freedom” - Charlie’s new wheelchair will be life-changing, says Halifax mum Lucy

After Lucy started a fundraising appeal to help with the cost of the state-of-the-art chair for Charlie, 12, who has cerebral palsy, members of the public responded by sending in their donations, while FC Halifax Town, who Charlie supports, also helped raise awareness and money.

The all-terrain, powered chair has now been delivered and Lucy says it will make a massive difference to Charlie’s life.

“I was like a child before Christmas the night before it arrived because I know what it’s going to do for him, what it’s going to provide not just for him but the whole family,” said Lucy.

“It’s going to give him so much more freedom and we’ll be able to access more places, go places where we’ve never been able to go before.

“We’re just so excited to start making new memories and going on new adventures.

“Where we live there’s a wood not far from us with a path running through it but it’s a mud track, so Charlie’s old chair wouldn’t have gone on that.

“So we’ll be able to go there, we’ll be able to go to the beach and go near the water.

“I’ve had to pull him on the beach before, which is really difficult to do.

“It will provide him with more independence.

“There’s a bit of grass I can see from my window where his friends play football and he’s just sat there before. He does have a role, they let him do refereeing, but he’ll be able to go up and down the sideline now.

“He’ll be able to play with his friends in a way he’s never been able to before.

“It’s life-changing. I don’t think people can appreciate how much this is going to be a life-changer, how much it’s going to help with Charlie’s independence in day-to-day life.

“I don’t think you can appreciate it until you’ve experienced it.”

Lucy is grateful to everyone who donated and raised awareness of the appeal.

“Initially it was Crosshills Church in Greetland that started the ball rolling,” she said.

“We never knew what we wanted to do with that money, we did think along the lines of an electric wheelchair.

“When I saw this I thought ‘he’s got to have it’ because it will provide so much for him.

“So massive thanks to Crosshills Church in Greetland, but then obviously we raised the money in two weeks and I’m eternally in people’s debt.

“I’ve said on Twitter that if I could afford it I’d be buying every single person a pint.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank them enough.

“Charlie wants to do a head shave to help Halifax Town. If we can do something to help them like they helped him, then we’re kind of repaying the good deed.

“But a massive thank you to absolutely everybody, every single person who donated, every single person who shared.

“And in such a time where people possibly didn’t have as much money as normal, everyone has struggled so much this past year in one way or another, it’s been a really testing time, so for everybody to come together and see Charlie’s story and think ‘I want to donate to that cause’ is overwhelming, absolutely amazing.

“I’m just so excited to start using it.”

One of the places they can’t wait to visit is The Shay to watch Charlie’s beloved FC Halifax Town.

“Definitely. That’s kept us going,” said Lucy.

“I just took him because he wanted to go but when I’ve been a few times I really got into it.

“I still don’t know anything about football but I do miss it. I miss the buzz, the atmosphere.

“When we go back, we’re going to have so many people to talk to.

“I am looking forward to getting back and thanking people in person.

“Hopefully when we do go back Charlie will be able to be a mascot.”