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Wheelchair users can now enjoy the beach
Steve Wettenhall MP, Member for Barron River saw first hand how four brand new “beach wheelchairs” shipped from France will brighten lives of children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy all over Queensland.
“Thankfully, the children of Cairns already have one chair in Cairns donated last year by the North Queensland Cowboys,” Mr Wettenhall said. So these four new chairs that cost over $3,000 each and were recently acquired through the Queensland Government’s Gambling Community Benefit Fund - will be transported for use around wider Queensland.”
Mr Wettenhall, who had written a letter of support for Deb Robins of Smithfield, and President of Parent Project Australia Inc’s successful grant application - urges other to apply for funds though the Gambling Community Benefit Fund.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is the most common form of muscular dystrophy, which in nearly half the cases is caused by a spontaneous mutation with no prior family history.
“Previously making trips to the beach was impossible on a normal wheelchair.
With the new beach wheelchairs – users now have the ability to be wheeled right onto the soft sand and even be submerged in the water by their carer,” Mr Wettenhall said.
Leon Gregory of Cairns hit the sand on Yorkeys Knob Beach for the first time in years with his mum Colleen and was blown away with excitement at being able to access the beach terrain with the revolutionary chairs.
The Smithfield State High School student and his brother Jayden are both affected by Duchenne - and since discovering the chairs are already looking forward to getting out more regularly to the beach.
Deb Robins, who is the President of Parent Project Australia Inc, said she was impressed at how easily wheelchair users could now glide across the soft sand.
“The design of the chair is more like a beach buggy than a traditional mobility aid, “said Ms Robins, who also has a son, Doug, with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
For more info on the Gambling Community Benefit Fund which provides one-off grants of up to $30,000 to Queensland based not-for-profit community groups, visit the website www.gcbf.qld.gov.au. The remaining 2008 funding closes August 31 and Nov 20.
Featured Picture: At yorkeys knob with a beach wheelchair that is a replica of the new gambling grant chairs are Colleen Gregory with son Leon, Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall and President of Parent Project Australia, Deb Robins.
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