Springfields – Employees at the Westinghouse nuclear fuel manufacturing site at Springfields, near Preston, have helped the British Red Cross maintain a much-needed wheelchair service in Lancashire.
The Springfields Employees Medical Research & Charity Trust Fund has donated £1500 to buy ten wheelchairs for the British Red Cross centre in Fulwood, Preston. “The British Red Cross has provided a Mobility Aids loan service in Lancashire for the past 15 years,” said Alison Whittaker-Stewart, British Red Cross Senior Community Fundraiser for Lancashire. “Unfortunately many of our wheelchairs are over ten years old and we desperately needed to replace them.”
The charity subsequently launched an appeal to raise £15000 to buy 100 wheelchairs and the Charity Trust Fund willingly helped out by providing the ten new wheelchairs.
The Mobility Aids loan service provides short-term loans of wheelchairs for a number of reasons, usually because of poor mobility and health, often resulting from an accident or medical condition, such as following a stroke. The service also loans wheelchairs to people for just a few days, particularly elderly people who may be attending an event, such as a wedding or funeral, and are unable to stand or walk for long periods of time.
The Red Cross starting providing the service for both injured servicemen and the general population following World War One. It was an immediate success and by the time the NHS was established in 1948, the Red Cross was already the ‘go to’ organisation for wheelchair loans.
“We were delighted to hear that the Red Cross recently met their target to fund 100 replacement wheelchairs,” said Ian Driver, Secretary of the Springfields Employees Medical Research & Charity Trust Fund. “We are particularly pleased that we have been able to assist them in reaching their target and provide these ten new wheelchairs, which will help them continue to provide their invaluable service throughout Lancashire.”
The Springfields Employees Medical Research & Charity Trust Fund does not make cash donations, but purchases equipment for medical organisations and registered charities throughout the Springfields’ travel to work area. Since its formation the Trust Fund has made over £1,000,000 in donations to local good causes.
Photo:- Some of the new wheelchairs are handed over to the British Red Cross. (L-R) Jackie Humphreys, Westinghouse Springfields, Sarah Collins, British Red Cross Mobility Aids Co-ordinator, Alan Beauchamp, Westinghouse Springfields, & Alison Whittaker-Stewart, British Red Cross Senior Community Fundraiser for Cumbria & Lancashire
For further information please contact Alan Beauchamp in the Westinghouse Press Office at Springfields on 01772-762841, or via e-mail at beaucha1@westinghouse.com