easy riders

Variety Club’s ‘Easy Riders Wheelchairs for Kids’ scheme celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. 

Since 1988 Variety has provided 3,270 wheelchairs, and the organisation does a great job by providing equipment and life changing educational and entertaining trips through its Variety at Work scheme. They provide buggies, trikes, manual wheelchairs with lightweight frames that are much easier for a child to use than standard chairs - and electrically powered wheelchairs that use the latest technology to make day-to-day life a little simpler. They even help to provide sports wheelchairs for athletically minded kids - up to the age of 19.

During 2008, the Variety Club is actively trying to attract more families to access its Easy Riders Scheme, so if you, or someone you know, could benefit, contact them now. You can contact the Wheelchair Co-ordinator on 020 7428 8100 or wheelchairs@varietyclub.org.uk

How they can help

The charity helped Barnaby Lister and his family in many ways - his mother Kate tells us why they are so great!

"The Variety Club Children’s Charity has been very generous to my family, in addition to the great generosity the staff have all been so kind and helpful to us.

"My son Barnaby has cerebral palsy, this affects mostly his legs.  Barnaby cannot stand or walk.  Barnaby has used a wheelchair since the age of two.  We had become too familiar with the laborious process used by the National Health Service Wheelchair Clinic when applying for a replacement chair.

"When we needed a replacement chair, because Barnaby was growing out of his, we would have to wait absolutely ages for an assessment, then another age until an outdated chair was supplied.  The restrictions of funding of the wheelchair service means the chairs are often old and not ideally suited to the child or family circumstances.

Cumbersome

"The chair we eventually received was very heavy and cumbersome, it was difficult lifting it in to the back of the car and for moving it around.  Because it was so heavy, it was hard for Barnaby to push, this limited his independence and caused him great frustrations because he wanted to be keeping up with his friends when they were running around.

"These concerns were very great to all the family, it is hard to lift an eight year old into a car seat and then have to lift and fold a heavy tubular steel wheelchair into the boot.  For Barnaby, getting around easily gives him the freedom to be more like his friends.

Can do!

"When we applied to the Variety Club Easy Riders Wheelchairs for Kids Scheme, we were met with such a positive ‘can do and want to do’ attitude.  We had full choice over the type of electric wheelchair that best suited Barnaby and the family.  Barnaby was able to choose the styling of the chair, the colour, type of wheels, including flashing front casters etc. 

"The whole process was very quick, we applied and the application was approved within four to six weeks.  It actually felt more like a fortnight.  The service was so quick  in comparison with our usual experiences when trying to access the usual wheelchair services. An order was then sent for the chair Barnaby had chosen.  The lovely thing about this was that throughout the process we were kept informed about what was happening.

Proud

"Barnaby is very proud of his chair, he loves it and thinks it is really special and cool, his friends love it and they all want to have a go in it.  The chair is very lightweight, so Barnaby is very fast and can do wheelies and very quick turns.  It is also so much easier for us to lift into the car. The flashing front casters have been a great bonus; Barnaby gets lots of attention and admiring glances and comments from people.

"Having a lovely chair makes Barnaby feel proud and this is good for his confidence, it also means it is easier for us to take Barnaby out and has removed the worry of having to lift the chair.

Events and days out

"The Variety Club has also given tickets to Barnaby for different events and days out such as Legoland and the London Eye.  Last year we went with two other local families who have disabled children to a big day out at Legoland.  This was enormous fun for the children and families, but also gave us a way of having fun with our children and being with other families who can support each other through our similar circumstances.

"The Variety Club have helped us in many ways, when I have had a problem with anything to do with Barnaby they have always helped, they have got advice on matters for me and given practical and emotional support.

"I feel indebted to The Variety Club; they have undoubtedly made life easier for Barnaby and all of his family.  We have also been able to have some extra fun times because of their generosity.  Barnaby has had a big smile on his face because of their kindness."