THE Warrington community has shown true Christmas spirit by rallying to help a little girl who had her wheelchair and Christmas presents stolen during a break-in at her family home, while they were asleep in bed.
Warrington Disability Partnership today presented four-year-old Lydia Cooper with a loan wheelchair and some Christmas presents, while local DJ Dominic Walker set up a crowdfund-raising page which has already attracted more than £2,500 in donations.
As reported by warrington-worldwide yesterday little Lydia’s wheelchair was in the family car which was used as a getaway vehicle following the break-in on George Crescent, near the King and Queen pub at Padgate, when all the family Christmas presents were also stolen.
An appeal for the return of the wheelchair by family friend Danis Louise “went viral” on social media, attracting, local, regional and national media coverage.
Lydia, who has a twin sister, needs the wheelchair after becoming poorly after birth when she suffered a bleed on the right side of her brain, as well as meningitis. After six months in hospital Lydia was allowed home but was left with Cerebral Palsy and Hydrocephalus.
Warrington Disability Partnership CEO, Dave Thompson, (pictured right) who this morning helped deliver a replacement wheelchair to Lydia’s family home, along with some Christmas presents, said: “It was absolutely heartbreaking to hear about what had happened to Lydia and her family.
“We hope we have been able to deliver a little bit of Christmas cheer at what must have been a very distressing and upsetting time for the family.”
Lydia and family with the loan chair supplied by Warrington Disability Partnership
1 Comment
Well done everyone – I have met lots of generous people throughout the year and this example is at the top of Santa’s Christmas list 🙂