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Help Whizz-Kidz make a real difference to a child's life
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Whizz-Kidz provided its 2,000th mobility aid to seven year old Lucy, who has a rare disability called salla syndrome and is unable to walk independently. Lucy's walker from Whizz-Kidz gives her much greater freedom and mobility, as her mum describes:
"Lucy uses the walker both indoors and outdoors and can now get up to quite a speed in the drive! She loves the challenge!"
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The Movement For Non-Mobile Children
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Whizz-Kidz is one of the UK's fastest growing and most dynamic children's charities.
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Whizz-Kidz aims to dramatically improve the lives of disabled children under the age of 18 by providing wheelchairs, trikes and walking aids, which are individually assessed for each child, giving them the confidence and freedom that other children take for granted. For some this can be their first experience of independent mobility.
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In 1998 Whizz-Kidz aims to raise at least £4 million to provide mobility aids for 1,200 children.
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Eighteen year old Anthony recently received his black trike from Whizz-Kidz. Anthony has a rare disability called arthrogryposis which affects the mobility of his hands, arms, feet and ankles. Says Anthony:
"I have made friends through my bike. People stop to talk to me about it....even my older brother's friends admire it and want to ride it. I can get around much quicker and I can go to the shops and the park safely on my own."
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Since it was founded in 1990, Whizz-Kidz has provided mobility aids for 2,000 children and is now the largest supplier of paediatric mobility aids outside the National Health Service. However there are 70,000 disabled children in the UK who currently need a mobility aid to help them move around.
Whizz-Kidz provides mobility aids to children with all disabilities. This includes cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy & atrophy, brittle bones, spina bifida, juvenile arthritis, rare syndromes and disabilities caused through accidents.
The cost of getting a child moving varies considerably, from trikes that start at £400 to a complex powered wheelchair which could cost up to £12,000. The average price of a mobility aid is £2,300.
Fitting the right mobility aid is a complex process. Considerable care is taken at Whizz-Kidz to provide equipment to help each child achieve the maximum possible comfort and independence.
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A unique element of Whizz-Kidz is the Children's Board consisting of eight whizz-kidz who have received mobility aids from the charity. The Children's Board has input into many different aspects of Whizz-Kidz: attending fundraising events, writing for the newsletter, providing ideas and acting as ambassadors for the charity. Pictured above are four Children's Board members: Vikki, Ben, Asta and Chris.
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Each child is personally assessed by an occupational or physiotherapist to ensure the most appropriate mobility aid is chosen and a comprehensive after-care service is provided.
Whizz-Kidz' income is 100% voluntary and is generated from the public through high profile events, corporate giving and from schools, universities, groups & associations and trusts.
Fundraising events include the London and New York Marathons, international challenges in Nepal, Iceland and India and our annual national school fundraising campaign: Whizz Week. We are receiving increasing support from national and regional trusts. A key growth area is the partnerships with our corporate sponsors which currently include Woolworths, BT, Midland Bank, Sketchley/Supasnaps, Eagle Star and the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE).
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Hannah is eleven years old and is pictured with a powered vehicle provided by Whizz-Kidz. Hannah has cerebral palsy which affects her mobility and posture. She comments:
"I am having so much fun with this great wheelchair and I can now drive it around the house and deliver cups of tea on the tray when we have visitors....we have made a bracket to support my tenor horn on the wheelchair to help me hold it."
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The benefits of mobility
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Families who have received mobility aids from Whizz-Kidz have written to describe the positive effect greater mobility has had on their lives:
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Discovering independence
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Daniel, who has cerebral palsy and is 11 years old, was given a wheelchair by Whizz-Kidz. His parents wrote:
"Daniel is absolutely delighted. It has opened up a new world for him. He can now join in with activities that were not available to him before. He is so proud of himself (and so are we)."
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Enhancing development
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Charlie, aged 4, who is a paraplegic, has an electric wheelchair from Whizz-Kidz. His parents wrote:
"Now with the wonderful wheelchair Charlie has more ability to move and explore and the chair is helping to develop his mental skills ..... Charlie has come on in leaps and bounds."
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Experiences for the first time
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Julie, who has cerebral palsy, received her trike from Whizz-Kidz day before her 13th birthday. Her mother wrote:
"It was the first time in thirteen years that Julie has been able to come with us on a farm walk without being carried or having to take a vehicle."
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The boost in confidence
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Aaron, aged 10, who has cerebral palsy, received an electric scooter from Whizz-Kidz. His mother wrote:
"Aaron has a severe weakness in his right arm and hand and the scooter has actually encouraged more use of it. You have given Aaron so much happiness, so much more independence, life can only continue to get better for him."
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Offering new opportunities
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Shaun, who has spina bifida, received a sports wheelchair from Whizz-Kidz when he was 16 years old. He wrote:
"It's brilliant! My dream is to represent Great Britain in the Paralympics one day and you have given me the chance to start chasing that dream!"
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Whizz-Kidz Fundraising
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Some of the many ways in which Whizz-Kidz fundraises include international treks, cause-related marketing initiatives with companies and our annual Whizz Week national school fundraising campaign.
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International Events
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A total of 190 trekkers covered 100 kilometres to an altitude of 13,604 feet on the Whizz-Kidz Himalayan Challenge: our first international trek, which raised over £650,000 to fund mobility aids for disabled children. Pictured left is Keith Bradshaw, one of our intrepid trekkers.
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Corporate Initiatives
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A national direct marketing campaign was launched to promote BTs business mobile phone package with a donation for each new connection made to Whizz-Kidz. Pictured is Stephen Serpell, Head of BTs Community Partnership Programme and Jannine from Whizz-Kidz.
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Whizz Week
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The aim of our annual Whizz Week fundraising campaign is to encourage children to think about the issues faced by a disabled child who is not able to move around freely and to invite schools and local children's groups to fundraise to provide mobility aids. Pictured supporting Whizz Week 1998 in their whizz wigs are members of Woldingham School in Surrey and Anna from Whizz-Kidz.
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Please help us to give more children mobility.
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Whizz-Kidz
THE MOVEMENT FOR NON-MOBILE CHILDREN
Registered Charity No. 802872
1 Warwick Row,
London, SW1E 5ER
Tel: 0171 233 6600
Fax: 0171 233 6611
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