Work colleagues at Thanet Community Transport Association will chuck themselves over a 100ft wall to raise enough money to buy an electric wheelchair for a young dad who was left with serious injuries after an accident.
Steve Reeve, 39, suffered a fall nine years ago but his awkward landing left him having to have his left leg amputated, spinal injuries and damage to his right leg.
The former aquatics shop worker and dad-of-three now uses a manual wheelchair but is desperate to get an electric one to give him the mobility to pick his children up from school, go to the shops or simply get out in the garden while his wife Vanessa is at work.
Vanessa, 43, is part of the Thanet Community Transport Association team and her manager Jayne Cribbens has suggested they and three other colleagues and a friend who is not with the company raise some of the £10,500 needed for the chair with a 100ft abseil.
Mum-of-three Jayne said: “Steve had a serious fall nine years ago and because of the way he landed he had to have a leg amputated, damaged his other leg and suffered spinal injuries.“Because he has upper body strength the NHS won’t fund an electric wheelchair but having one would make so much difference to him. It would mean being able to pick his kids up or get about, even just into the garden, without needing Vanessa to help him.
“I wanted to do a sky dive but no-one else was up for it so we are doing the abseil challenge instead, but we will be doing it in fancy dress!”
The 54-year-old and friends will plunge down the wall at Thomas park in Maidstone on November 26 and are appealing for people to sponsor them.
The team has already raised just over £2,000 through donations, including from one client who gave £1,000.More cash will be raised at a quiz night at the Dock and Duck, Plucks Gutter on April 1.
To sponsor the team click on this link