Page 15 - PIC-Magazine-Issue-26

LUKE’S STORY
In 2023, 25-year old Luke sustained a
C5 incomplete Asia B injury, braking
his neck vertebrae and suff ered a spinal
cord injury.
Luke was playing in an organised beach
rugby tournament on Ryde Beach on the
Isle of Wight. He was involved in what
appeared to be a standard tackle, nothing
too heavy or forced. His opponent turned
and his knee went into Luke's neck,
breaking it and instantly paralysing him.
Luke was in ICU for 6 weeks, during
which time he had an operation on his
broken neck. His condition was very
serious and he was on a ventilator.
He then transferred to Southampton
General Hospital for 6 months of
rehabilitation.
Luke returned to the Isle of Wight
in March 2024 to stay at Laidlaw
Community Rehabilitation Centre,
whilst adaptations to the house were
being made.
Whilst supporting Luke through all of
this, the family had the added stress of
getting the house adapted to their new
circumstances to ensure he received
daily car.
Through a combination of local statutory
funding and their own pot of savings,
Luke's family were able to adapt the
ground fl oor of their house to include
Luke's bedroom, a wet room and
widening doors to fi t Luke's wheelchair.
They however could not aff ord the
hoists needed to transfer Luke in and
out of his bed, and didn't want him to
have to spend his life bed bound. That's
when the family applied to Fletchers
Foundation.
It was an easy decision for our trustees
to approve a grant for a ceiling track
hoist and travel hoist, as transferring in
and out of his bed has massive physical
and mental impact.
The travel hoist also means that Luke
can go away for a break or holiday
with his friends or/and family as it is an
important portable item. It is also used
for transferring from his wheelchair to
a suitable chair or sofa in the home,
therefore not missing out on time with
his loved ones.
"After suff ering a broken neck & spinal
cord injury in 2023, which has left me
paralyzed from the chest down, I had
been away from my home and family
for 20 months in hospital & rehab.
If it wasn't for the generosity of the
Fletcher's Foundation for the funding of
the hoists, then I still wouldn't be home,
as they are an absolute necessity for my
everyday life, as I use them at least four
times a day.
Myself and my family will be eternally
grateful to you all, thank you so much."
CLAIRE’S STORY
Claire lives with chronic pain stemming
from degenerative disc disease, making
it very hard for her to walk even the
shortest of distances. She has been an
ambulatory wheelchair user for the last
9 years and it’s the only way she is able
to leave her home.
Claire used a manual wheelchair but
struggles to self-propel because of
issues with nerves in her arms which
means she has to be accompanied/
pushed everywhere she goes.
She applied to Fletchers Foundation
for a joystick-controlled power add-on
called the Alber E-fi x which will turn her
manual wheelchair into a powerchair,
keeping it portable and practical.
Claire said the Alber E-fi x would
improve her mobility, independence and
provide her with a much needed sense
of freedom. It would also allow her to
meet up with friends, get to the hospital
without needing expensive taxis, help
with shopping, collecting packages and
generally be more independent.
The biggest thing for her however is that
it would allow her to hold her husband’s
hand again, as he would be at her side,
rather than pushing her.
Claire is also looking to be able to
regularly go swimming again and having
the Alber E-fi x fi tted would allow her to
do this.
There was a clear need for Claire and
it was obvious that this upgrade would
bring a huge amount of benefi ts, so the
trustees of Fletchers Foundation easily
agreed with the recommendation to
part fund the chair along with another
charity.
The Alber E-Fix was delivered to Claire
in May 2025 and life has completely
changed for her.
"I cannot thank everyone enough, my
appreciation for those who helped is
beyond words.
Since receiving my Alber E-Fix system,
my life has been so diff erent, not just in
the big ways but the small ways that you
don't even realise you missed!
My freedom and ability to go out
further and for longer has been
tremendous, I've been able to go out
more independently and do the things
that I've really wanted to do without the
energy limitations, like going to London
for the fi rst time in around 5 years to
seem some exhibitions of my favourite
artists and get lost shopping in Covent
Gardens.
Even doing the weekly shop feels more
freeing, being able to go around a shop
by myself and pick up what I need,
when I need it makes a huge diff erence
in the experience. The little things are
what have hit me the most though, such
as being able to hold my husband's
hand as we go about our day and not
having him behind me, pushing. The
last time we could do that was over 2
years ago during our honeymoon when
I rented a similar system, before that, it
was at least 5 years! It fi nally feels less
like he's my carer and much more like
my partner again.
I feel like me again, I feel like the silly,
playful person I used to be. I do need
to learn to drive a little better before
I'm really let loose on the public.
You really don't realise just how much
disability takes away from you but now
I'm clawing it all back, bit by bit, all
thanks to the amazing people who
have all made this possible."
Where to contact Fletchers Foundation?
If you know of anyone who is in need of a grant or if you’d like to fi nd out more about Fletchers Foundation.
Visit: fl etchersfoundation.org.uk | Get in Touch: 03300 081212 | info@fl etchersfoundation.org.uk
www.pic.legal Spring & Summer 2026
PARTNERS IN COSTS
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