Children like Tyler (pictured) at Thameside Primary School, who suffers with spastic paraplegia, now have a ticket to ride thanks to Grays Thurrock Rotary Club.
Rotary club President Dr Kevin Watkins (left) at the school with the wheelchair and pupil Tyler, Rotary’s Mr Peter Minter and Thameside Primary School’s Senior Deputy Headteacher Mrs Billinghurst
The club donated a specialised wheelchair to the school so that school trips could be more manageable for pupils like Tyler.
The wheelchair was handed over to the school this week by the club’s President Dr. Kevin Watkins.
“We are delighted to help with ventures like this” said Dr. Watkins at the school handover.
“It’s a thoroughly deserving cause and will help more children enjoy the benefits that Thameside Primary School provide in their creative and imaginative projects, particularly with their out of school trips and activities.
It also strengthens our bond with all the communities of our town”
The need for a wheelchair at the school was identified when Thurrock Rotary Club’s Immediate Past President Mr. Peter Minter helped on a school trip and noticed that the school had to hire a wheelchair for the day to help pupils like Tyler enjoy the same activities as his classmates.
Senior Deputy Head at the School Mrs. Billinghurst approached Mr. Minter and asked whether the club could do anything to help the school in the purchase of a specialised wheelchair.
“This is exactly the kind of project we like to support” said Mr. Minter
“We have a fund, outside of what we generate with our annual Christmas sleigh, that is specifically for this kind thing.”
Thameside Primary School Senior Deputy Head, Mrs. Billinghurst said: “ The children of our school, plus the teachers, support staff and the whole of the TPS community are enormously grateful for the generous support of Grays Thurrock Rotary Club.
Thanks to them now Tyler, and children like him, at our school can easily enjoy the benefits of their fellow pupils when we go on our great fun learning adventures outside of school”