Another beach wheelchair joins the fleet
Another specialist beach wheelchair has been added to the fleet available to hire for free from New Brighton and West Kirby - thanks to the generosity of Wirral people.
After an appeal launched on the Facebook group, Wirral Support During Coronavirus (WSDC), residents responded by donating the cash required to buy a Sand Cruiser chair.
Following on from the recent launch of six beach wheelchairs, funded through an Adult Health and Social Care grant and procured by Wirral Council and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS, this seventh chair has now joined the fleet.
This chair will be available to hire free of charge from the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton as part of the fleet. One electric-powered chair is also available for hire at The Floral Pavilion. Other chairs that require manual pushing are available at the Watersports Centre in West Kirby, as well as the Floral Pavilion.
All available chairs are equipped with support straps, cushions and harnesses. Any additional support or accessories required to use the chairs will need to be brought by the user.
Residents and visitors can book the chairs through the Floral Pavilion website for hire from that venue or the Wirral Leisure booking system for hire from the Watersports Centre.
Cllr Yvonne Nolan, Chair of the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee, said:
It has been very emotional seeing the many photos being shared of some of the most vulnerable members of our community being able to enjoy some time on the beach and in the water thanks to these beach wheelchairs.
I am also overwhelmed to hear of the generosity of Wirral residents, in response to an appeal from the WSDC group, in funding a chair themselves and which will be added to the scheme and enable us to help even more people with a disability or mobility issue to access the beach.
Jen Gerritsen, whose messages on the WSDC group inspired the fundraiser, added:
Daisy's wish has become a reality. Her legacy will live on thanks to the generosity of everyone who contributed to the go fund me via WSDC. The ‘Daisy’ chair is now part of the fleet.
It took many individuals to make this project a reality. Thanks to everyone for believing in the vision and making it happen. The ‘Miles of Smiles’ are incredible to see. Here's to walking our dog together on the beach and splashing in the sea; simple pleasures but priceless treasured memories.
