West Riding Masonic Charities Goes International
The Childrens Hospital Charity, based in Sheffield, was approached by the metabolic bone team, the largest in the world, with a need for a specialised walker for children suffering from Osteo Genisis imperfecta [Brittle Bone Disease].
Children suffering from this genetic condition can be up to 4 years of age before learning to walk and the assistance of a walker was considered desperate.
The Sheffield University Engineering Dept. was approached and Jui Hi Lim, a post graduate student, designed an initial prototype which allowed a child to be assisted in walking for the first time. There were still many areas that needed to be developed and information came to us from a Radio Sheffield interview, explaining that without funding the project of development could not progress.
Masons in Sheffield made contact with the charity and after various meetings an application for an emergency grant was made to West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd. by Waltheof Lodge No.3499.This resulted in a cheque for £18,000 being presented on 20th July at the Sheffield Childrens Hospital.
Simon Athey (Senior Fundraiser) said, “Children currently use adaptations of baby walkers and adult frames unsuccessfully because quite frankly nothing else exists. These adaptations, made by the bone team are not ideal, heavy and difficult to adjust. Now the White Knights have appeared all the children will benefit.”
12?24 children a year in the U.K. are diagnosed with the problem but word of the new walker is now spreading and much interest is now being received from bone teams in U.S.A., Canada and Australia. At full development it will go worldwide to help hundreds of children.
With thanks to Simon Athey , and in the picture above, Liz Knowles (left), Claire Hill (right) and most of all to Maleah Pegg (front centre) who brought her Mum along too.