Sharon Coleclough and daughter Emma give the thumbs up to all the people who helped raise money for a new wheelchair. Picture: Meagan Rogers.
By Sarah Schwager
THE mother of a Cranbourne girl with cerebral palsy was in tears after the community rallied around her and her daughter, raising thousands of dollars for an electric wheelchair.
Sharon Coleclough could not believe the generosity of locals when more than 140 people turned up at a recent fundraiser to raise money for her 10-year-old daughter Emma, who was born with severe spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy.
“I can’t believe how grateful people were, it was just so overwhelming,” Ms Coleclough said.
“You don’t realise how much people want to help, people who haven’t even met her.”
The fundraiser at Stumpy Gully Vineyard raised $4500 after costs, the final amount needed to buy an electric wheelchair for Emma.
Emma now needs a new car to fit the wheelchair, valued at up to $25,000, vehicle modification, also $25,000, and hydraulic bath seat which would cost about $2500.
“Now we are trying to look for a reasonably priced vehicle for her and then we will need to do more fundraising.
“At the moment we have to either do taxis or put the wheelchair in a trailer to travel around.
“But Emma has only now grown out of her car seat. So we are not in a safe situation at the moment. She is quite a big girl now – she weighs 35kgs but it’s dead weight.”
Emma was only recently diagnosed with epilepsy, with the neurological disease affecting one in three children with cerebral palsy.
Ms Coleclough thanked everyone who attended the fundraiser, explaining how having a child with a severe disability had changed her life and that of her eldest daughter Jessica.
“(Jessica) has given up a lot of things that young people enjoy to be her sister’s friend, buddy, playmate and companion. She, along with her parents, are Emma’s protector and mentors.
“Emma getting her electric wheelchair is just the first step in trying to give her a normal as possible life in the years to come.”
Emma used her electronic communicator to tell everyone “I am so happy” and “Thank you” on the night.
The next fundraiser for Emma will be held at Skateworld in Carrum Downs on Sunday, 9 September. For information call Skateworld on 9773 6799.
