crocodile - r82 uk...top scoring frame footballer, toby from hemel hempstead, surprised with r82...
Post on 21-Feb-2020
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Top Scoring Frame Footballer, Toby from Hemel Hempstead, surprised with R82 Crocodile Walker donation
Toby Hawkridge, 11, who has Cerebral Palsy became the excited recipient of an R82 Crocodile Walking Frame, gifted to him recently by R82 whilst playing Frame Football at Basildon Soccability.
R82 UK, specialist suppliers of adaptive
solutions for disabled children and young
adults, are supporting UK Frame Football clubs
by donating eight Crocodile Walkers to young
players. Set up by amateur football coach,
Richard Seedhouse, Frame Football is a new
activity with teams forming across the UK. Many
players use crutches on a daily basis but utilise
a wheeled walking frame when they play. R82
UK hopes, by supporting the activity, it can raise
the profile of this inclusive sport and encourage
more children to get involved.
Toby, a passionate Tottenham Hotspur fan,
began participating in Frame Football at Basildon
Soccability nine months ago. Although he can
walk unaided, he uses crutches to help him on
a daily basis and is reliant on a frame to run,
go backwards and for longer distances. Toby,
from Hemel Hempstead, was born with Spastic
Diplegia CP, which led to him walking on tiptoes
in a scissoring pattern and requiring the use of a
wheelchair.
In 2011, having raised an incredible £64,000
in six months through fund raising, Toby’s
parents, Kelly and Terry, were able to take him
to America, for a life changing operation. Kelly
comments: “We were finding it very difficult to
access appropriate treatment in the UK and
crocodile
R82 UK Ltd.
Unit D4A, Coombswood Business Park, East Coombswood Way, Halesowen, West Midlands. B62 8BH
Tel. 0121 561 2222 / Fax. 0121 559 5437 / Email: R82uk@R82.com / www.R82.co.uk
R82 and Etac R82 UK Ltd is an Etac Group company supplying R82, Etac, Molift, Immedia, Convaid and Star Cushion branded products in the UK and Ireland from a head office base in Halesowen, Birmingham.
The extensive range of high quality assistive products for disabled children and adults includes wheelchairs, buggies, standing, walking, toileting and bathing aids, manual and mechanical transfer aids and pressure cushions. Sales and distribution of these products is supported with service and repair back up from a base in Basingstoke.
© R82 UK Ltd. February 2017
The parent company Etac AB is based in Stockholm, Sweden with manufacturing sites across Scandinavia. The Etac Group has a truly global reach with further subsidiary companies in the USA, Europe, Far East and Australia. The most recent acquisitions of US buggy manufacturer Convaid and Star Cushion Products Inc (pressure care solutions) has further strengthened the Etac Group’s product portfolio worldwide.
made the decision to fundraise so that Toby
could have what is seen as routine surgery in
America. A similar operation in the UK would
mean removing three pieces of Toby’s spine but
at St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri, they
specialise in this operation and only remove
one piece of spine. They also operated on his
hamstrings to relieve tightness. Toby’s doctor,
Dr Parks, was amazing and the rehabilitation
process was a lot shorter in the US than it would
have been in the UK”.
Toby’s parents noticed positive changes almost
immediately post-surgery. Kelly explains: “Very
quickly, Toby stopped waking in pain at night.
This was a huge deal for all of us, as prior to the
operation my husband and I needed to help him
stretch to reduce nightly pain. We are extremely
grateful to everyone that helped and supported
us. Before surgery, Toby could not walk up and
down stairs, brush his teeth unaided or get in
and out of a bath – but now he can. We still go to
rehabilitation to help Toby through growth spurts
but he can walk unaided and can take part in
activities that he could not have coped with
before. His personality has changed too. He is
now very positive and eager to try new things. In
fact, Toby has just come back from a PGL holiday
where he took part in abseiling, canoeing and
used the zipwire.”
Toby, who will be starting at Adey Field
Secondary School, in September, loves the
X-Box and spending time with his family. He
also enjoys catching up with the UK children he
met in America undergoing similar treatment
to himself. The families meet twice a year and
have been on holiday together. Kelly says this
network of friends has been important for all of
them. Having similar experiences in the past,
they continue to share news about rehabilitation,
treatment and equipment. In fact, many of the
children have joined the same Frame Football
Club as Toby so that they see each other on a
weekly basis.
Toby was presented with his new Crocodile
Walker by R82 Product Advisor, Bernie Cantona.
She comments: “R82 UK is delighted to support
the Frame Football Association, a non- profit
group who work for the benefit of the player
and their family. It was a pleasure to meet Toby
and his family and handover the Crocodile to
Toby. The walker comes in three sizes and we
have provided Toby with the larger size, which
hopefully will see him through to his teenage
years. As the walker can be placed behind the
body, it allows freedom of movement whilst
providing maximum support and stability. It is
Best of all, as top scorer at Frame Football, I can now go even faster – it’s like being given a brand new Ferrari!
ideal for Frame Football. We hope the publicity
R82 raises will encourage other families to find
out about their local Frame Football clubs.”
Toby summarises: “I was really surprised to
receive my Crocodile Walker. I didn’t know
anything about it! My Dad knew but kept it a
complete surprise from my Mum and me. The
old walker I had was wobbly and too small and
I was getting frustrated using it as it was so
old! Having the Crocodile will make a massive
difference and my parents and I are very grateful
to R82. I still get tired walking long distances
but as the Crocodile has a seat I can now join
in with things like dog walks and take a break
when needed. Best of all, as top scorer at Frame
Football, I can now go even faster – it’s like
being given a brand new Ferrari!”
Picture captions:
1. Toby enjoying training with his new Crocodile.
2. Bernie Cantona from R82 presents Toby with his new donated Crocodile.
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