Phoebe Matthews will celebrate her 16th birthday tomorrow (Sept 16) in the knowledge that she has a life-changing present on the way.
Last week The Voice publicised a £12,000 appeal to buy her a powered standing wheelchair – and, wonderfully, the target was reached within five days.
Scores of people dug deep after being moved by the story of Phoebe’s cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia, which affects all her limbs. She is unable to stand, walk, use her arms to feed herself, or sit unaided.
Standing is an important part of her physiotherapy programme and the Genie V2 wheelchair will help her do that as often and for as long as she wants.
Phoebe said: “It’s the best birthday present ever!”
Spalding Round Table gave the appeal a £6,000 boost, Holbeach charity shop Chosen donated £1,000, and Spalding accountants Moore Thompson gave £500.
Meanwhile, an online appeal swelled to over £2,300 with personal donations and The Iris O’Brien Foundation gave a £2,500 grant.
Phoebe’s parents Amanda and Shaun, of Meadway, Spalding, said: “We have been overwhelmed at the generosity – people we know and people we don’t know, and friends of friends that have shared our story. And we could not have done this without the backing of the charities and organisations that have made this dream come true very quickly.
“The difference it will make to our family is enormous. For Phoebe it obviously will give her the opportunity to stand up whenever she wants to.
“For us it means we won’t have the hard work of getting Phoebe into her current standing frame. The power chair will be so much easier.”
Round Table’s donation was part of the £11,000 raised at its Springfields boxing event earlier this year.
Table chairman Matthew Burchnall said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to help the family achieve the target so quickly.
“We hope Phoebe enjoys using the chair and wish her a very happy 16th birthday.”
And Chosen joint manager Iris Boland said: “Seeing Phoebe as a happy youngster makes what we do and achieve so worthwhile.”
