Ashley Gets His Tomcat
8 year old Ashley Lewis attends Curnow School in Redruth, has cerebral palsy that affects his right side and is unable to walk so he spends most of his time in a wheel chair. He also has fluid on the brain, is epileptic, has no sight in his left eye and blurred vision in the right eye.
Ashley needed a Trike which would help him improve his posture, allow him to exercise his legs and support good movement patterns, build muscle strength, flexibility and overall fitness.
The family raised £390 by holding a jumble sale, Mum did a parachute jump, the Elifar Foundation donated £913 and the Camborne Redruth and District Lions Club gave £1000 to enable a Trike to be purchased.
Socially the Trike will also allow Ashley to join in with the other siblings and not be left on the sidelines watching, he will gain some independence and, we hope, much enjoyment.
The Tomcat Trike can be converted to a trailer with Dad Andy having to provide the pedal power
Bob Griffin, the MD and Design Engineer for Tomcat delivered the Trike on the 10th June and the Lions were on hand to make the presentation to Ashley.
Sometime in the future Ashley will need further operations on his right hand side to hopefully improve his mobility and comfort.
Both of his ankles and toes have to be straightened which will require having them broken straightened and then pinned.
Ashley, due to his blindness, will also require a guide dog and sensors throughout his home to help him move safely around the house. Fortunately the family has received funding for a guide dog from an anonymous donor.
Top left Photo: Dad Andy Lewis, Mum Kerry Lewis, Lion President Jimmy Winn, Lion Paul Bray (Community Service Chairman) and a beaming Ashley trying out his new Trike