POSITIVE people power was demonstrated when a group of 21 friends got together to fundraise to buy a set of wheelchairs for Stapely Care home.
The campaign to buy five of the latest design of lightweight wheel chairs far superior to existing models was the idea of Eileen Edels, a long time volunteer at Stapely Care, in Mossley Hill, Liverpool.
The £700 was rapidly raised and the lightweight wheelchairs were acquired through Chums online retailer and the group was given a good price for the multiple order.
Eileen Edels, pictured above, far right said: “We regularly take Stapely residents to Sefton Park Palm House and the wheelchairs are so heavy to lift and push on the walk there.
“One of my colleagues Phil Hipshaw suggested that lightweight wheelchairs were available and they would be a better option. At a lunch I put forward the idea to some friends that we could fundraise for the wheelchairs.
“They responded immediately and were so generous that there was money available to buy more equipment including a karaoke machine for residents’ sing songs.”
Philip Ettinger, Stapely Care trustee, said: “I’d like to thank the group on behalf of the Stapely patients and residents for being so generous to us.
“The gift of these five wheelchairs is going to make life so much easier for patients.”
Geoffrey Berg, who was one of the fundraisers, said: “I want to thank Eileen Edels for taking the initiative in doing this campaign.
“I saw you struggling bringing patients to Sefton Park Palm House and you decided to do something to make matters easier and this has been the wonderful result. Well done!”