A CALDICOT mother is backing our appeal to raise £10,000 for an “equipment library” to help children with disabilities across Gwent.

Catherine Aswell-Rice, 37, is backing our Sparkle Appeal, which aims to provide the Serennu Centre in Newport with specialised equipment for pre-school children with a disability or developmental difficulty to use as part of their therapy sessions.

The Serennu Centre helps children in the Newport, Torfaen and Monmouthshire council areas.

Three-year-old Imogen Ashwell-Lewis suffers from cerebral palsy. Her legs don’t work correctly and she has problems with sitting and lying down.

She has been helped by Sparkle since she aged was just one.

“The equipment library would really make a difference,” Ms Aswell-Rice said.

“Imogen had a growth spurt a couple of months ago and she has outgrown everything.

“When you order equipment some of these things take months to arrive through the NHS so if she could test this equipment before it would be great.

“It will really benefit all of the children and Imogen – she is a lovely little girl, always smiling and singing.”

Sparkle hopes that if the equipment is on site it will be provide children a way to explore the equipment in a more relaxing environment at a time when many parents are upset by equipment highlighting their child’s disability.

The Argus-backed campaign aims to provide items which support a child’s mobility and independence including a Quest 88 Walking Frame – a walking aid for children requiring additional support – as well as a Nessie, a positioning system for supporting a child normally with a more severe disability, in a variety of positions on the floor.

The Greggs Foundation has already donated £2,000 to our appeal but we still need your support. Lisa Pearson, business development manager at Sparkle, said: “The Sparkle Serennu Children’s Centre is an amazing place which gives support to so many local children.

“We hope to provide them with an ‘equipment library’ so they have the opportunity to try a variety of things.”

The easiest way to donate is by text.

Just text SGCF14 and then the amount you wish to donate to 70070.

For example, SGCF1410 to donate £10.

Donations can also be made by calling the Sparkle office on 01633 748092 and asking for Lisa Pearson.

EQUIPMENT LIBRARY

• TinyTRAX chair, £6,000. A powered wheelchair which would enable children aged from 20 months to eight to learn the foundation skills for driving an electric wheelchair.

• Quest 88 Walking Frame, £317. 50. A walking aid for children requiring additional support to walk. Without the aid of equipment like this he child has no freedom to move around independently.

• Nessie, £225. This is a positioning system for supporting a child normally with a more severe disability, in a variety of positions on the floor. This will help them to develop skills, strengthening muscles and enable them to engage in play activities.

• Wiz K walker, £540. This is a forward facing walker which can be used for assessing a child which developmental delay. This is often the first walker to be introduced to a small child which supports and enhances the child’s mobility and gives then freedom to move around.

• 2x Gymnic anti burst physio roll plus peanut, £94.41. These peanut shaped therapy balls are used for children with complex needs to develop strength and movement skills.

• W1 Kaye Walker, £588. This is a forward facing foldable walker by Quest 88 for use in assessment and treatment sessions.

• Leckey Squiggles Stander, £1,500. This is an early years standing frame which can be used prone, upright and supine. This stander can be used to assess a child’s needs into an initial standing frame

• Small Pacer walker, £1,349. This is a supportive walker for a child with complex physical needs which can be used for both assessment and treatment purposes.