Beneficiaries

Alice is lifted to new heights

The Sunshine Fund helped little Alice Cummings to get on the move when her family was awarded a grant to purchase a portable hoist.

Alice Cummings was born with cerebral palsy and her parents, Paul and Janet, have always had to carry her if she wanted to move, but only when it was absolutely necessary because it was so physically demanding.

But after an application to the Chronicle’s children’s charity, the family, of Gilesgate Moor, County Durham, have been given a portable hoist, and they say it has made a big difference to their lives. Because the hoist is portable they can even take it away with them on trips.

Dad Paul, 40, a senior child care officer, said: “Now it is nice and easy to take her anywhere in the house we want to.

“Janet has a bad neck and so Alice used to have to stay in the same place after school until I came home because she couldn’t lift her by herself.

“Now, though, she can move her all around the place, which makes things much easier.

“I think Alice has really noticed the difference. And she is more comfortable with it than either Janet or I because she has been using one at school for a while. It really has made a massive difference to our lives.”

DELIGHTED: Alice Cummings can move around more easily, thanks to the new portable hoist (Picture: TONY HALL)


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