Those two ambitions: well I have always thought I should be a model and this was my big chance. There was a rumour that we models had been chosen as the “Little and Large” of the group but looking at Ross, as debonair and suave as ever, it was obvious we had been chosen for our good looks and photogenic personalities. I leave you to judge for yourselves.

The second ambition was the chance to do a Top Gear type review and road test of the wheelchairs. Here it is: The two large attendant propelled chairs were comfort on wheels. Padded seats, a wider than average axle and a longer wheel base made them a joy to sit in and the balance made it easy to push and steer. With so many adjustments, getting settled was akin to being fitted for a hand made suit. The third chair was a nippy little electric model with dual controls enabling the user or their carer to operate the controls. A very natty compromise allowing both independent use and the carer to take over when needed. A very useful addition to the fleet.

We are extremely grateful to organisations such as Rotary Club of Ringwood who fundraise on our behalf enabling us to maintain our independence for as long as possible.

Mike Hardy

 

 

It is not often you get a chance to fulfil two ambitions in the same moment but thanks to the generosity of the Rotary Club of Ringwood this happened to me. The occasion was the official handover of three new State of the Art wheelchairs financed by the Club during Dennis Hancock’s year of Presidency. Dennis had chosen MND as his charity of the year as his daughter Sarah had died from the disease in 2003. £4114.87 had been raised from fundraising events, mainly from a Sponsored Horse and Cycle Ride held in May 2006. The wheelchairs were presented to the St Leonard’s Wheelchair Clinic on behalf of the East Dorset and New Forest MND Association.

To commemorate the occasion Audrey Beall, our Secretary, presented the President of the Rotary Club of Ringwood, Dick Serjeantson, and Dennis Hancock, past President, with a certificate to express our thanks for the generous gesture, which would do much to ease the bottlenecks and delays in providing much needed support to those living with MND when it was needed.