Thanks to the joint fundraising efforts of customers and staff at Cashino Barking, on behalf of CHIPS, fourteen-year-old Jack Horsley-Green, has been presented with a brand new powered wheelchair, which will allow him to maximise his independence and spend more time with his friends.
Cashino, which operates 168 adult gaming centres across the country, is one of the main fundraisers for CHIPS, a charity set up on behalf of the casino and gaming industry, which provides specialised wheelchairs for children with severe mobility problems.
Jack, who lives in Crayford, Kent with his parents, Cally and Kevin, and younger brother Jayden, suffers from bilateral Cerebral Palsy. This means Jack has spasticity of his lower limbs,and underlying weakness of both his core and lower limbs. Jack was born 16 weeks early and only weighed 1.5lbs.
Jack’s mum, Cally, said: “Due to his condition, Jack spends the majority of his time in his wheelchair, and although he is able to self-propel a bit, it takes an incredible amount of effort and he tires very easily, which is when he becomes dependent on someone to push him around. He’s a very sociable, bright boy and is desperate to gain some independence. This new, powered wheelchair from CHIPS and Cashino will make areal difference to his life.”
Cashino Barking venue manager, Frances Dsousa, said: “It’s such a proud moment to know that our fundraising efforts are going to make such a huge difference to Jack and his family’s life. He’s such a lovely, friendly and intelligent boy who thoroughly deserves this powered wheelchair.”
Co-founder of the CHIPS charity Linda Lindsay said: “It is so important for CHIPS that our donors see the results of their hard work, and we try to ensure that all the recipients are local to where the funds have been raised. Cashino and parent company Praesepe have been amazing, and to date have donated £1 million allowing CHIPS to provide more than 150 wheelchairs up and down the country.”
In total CHIPS has raised more than £2.2 million to date and presented over 520 wheelchairs to children throughout the UK.
