A disabled man in Burnham-On-Sea has been handed a life-changing piece of mobility equipment thanks to a charity’s help.
The Burnham Community Medical Equipment Fund has provided half the £2,000 funding needed to buy a vital mobility hoist for Steven Heywood, who lives at Alfred Court Care Home in Highbridge.
His father Alfred told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “The new automatic hoist has been a godsend. Steven used to be manually lifted before, which was uncomfortable for him and awkward for his carers.”
“The new hoist is considerably easier to use and makes it easier for them look after Steve, who needs constant attention.”
The Burnham Community Medical Equipment Fund is a 23 year-old organisation that has provided more than £200,000 of medical equipment to people throughout the Burnham-On-Sea area since it was originally set up in 1986. Much of its funds come from legacies and gifts. It currently is processing requests for thousands of pounds of equipment.
The group’s Chairman, Tom Ashton, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We were very keen to help as soon as we heard about the problems that Steven’s carers were facing with the old, manual equipment.”
Tom accompanied Steven and a group of his family and friends on a trip to Burnham’s Oaktree Arena on Friday evening (Sepetmber 11th) to watch an evening of speedway action.
During the visit they met top rider Emil Kramer, pictured, along with Oaktree Arena’s owners Bill and Debbie Hancock.
Pictured (top) are Tom Ashton, Sam Ashton, Don Newman, Alfred Heywood and Jean Heywood with Steven Heywood; and (beneath) with speedway rider Emil Kramer and Oaktree Arena’s Bill and Debbie Hancock
