A STOCKTON Heath mum-of-four has voiced her relief after she was presented with a £400 cheque to cover the costs of a new powered wheelchair last Tuesday.

Wendy Pitts, aged 35, began experiencing difficulties three months ago when a technical glitch rendered her old chair a health hazard

But with no money to get the chair repaired or replaced the future seemed bleak - until Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP) and one of the charity's supporters, Stockton Heath and District Lions Club, stepped in.

"I was put in touch with WDP by the amazing people that run One Wednesday Can't Hurt (OWCH) - my pain support group - and the wonderful Brun Munslow, a team leader," said Wendy.

"They set out on a mission to help me - my purple speed machine went into the WDP workshop, where it was fully assessed and condemned."

The user-led social enterprise provided Wendy with a temporary chair from its Shopmobility fleet and WDP set about sourcing funding to finance a permanent replacement.

That funding came last week when Wendy was issued with the cheque at the Centre for Independent Living, on Beaufort Street, on Tuesday by Lions David Gartside and Paul Moir-Riches.

"This chair is so much more than you can possibly imagine," added Wendy.

"It is my independence - it's being able to walk the dogs alone, it's being able to take the kids to feed the ducks and a million more things that I could sit talking about all night.

"I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am knowing that I don't have to worry about that any longer.

"A huge thank you to all of those involved at every stage from me and my little family."

Mr Gartside praised the efforts of all those involved in ensuring Wendy was supplied with the wheelchair.

He added: "We wish her every happiness and look forward to seeing Wendy out and about in the local community."

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