Supplier News
UK – Caesars donation gives schoolboy a new lease of life
By Phil - 2 May 2015
A Derby schoolboy is celebrating newfound independence this week thanks to the donation of a high-powered wheelchair worth £7,000, courtesy of ALEA casino in Nottingham, part of Caesars Entertainment UK.
Eleven years old Nathan Moore – who has Autism, global developmental delay and epilepsy – was presented with the chair by Caesars Entertainment’s Managing Director, Mike Rothwell, who was there to represent ALEA Nottingham.
Nathan’s global development delay means that he can only walk short distances with the aid of splints, and carer support. He requires a wheelchair for uneven surfaces, long distances and periods of ill health but up until now has been reliant upon a manual wheelchair, which he is unable to self propel. This new powered, attendant controlled wheelchair will empower Nathan to enjoy a full life both at school and at home.
Nathan lives in Spondon with his mother, father and 21yr old brother Michael. His mother has been finding it increasingly difficult to push her 65kg / 5ft tall son in his wheelchair over recent months particularly as she is waiting for spinal surgery herself. She said: “This chair has come just at the right time. It will dramatically help both Nathan’s mobility and his independence and massively improve his quality of life at a time when he is wanting to become more self sufficient. We are incredibly grateful to staff and customers at ALEA Casino for their fundraising efforts.”
The donation is part of ALEA Nottingham’s ongoing commitment to gaming industry charity CHIPS, which provides powered wheelchairs for disabled youngsters.
Mark Hands, Venue Director at ALEA Nottingham said: “It is incredibly rewarding to give such a life-changing gift to a local youngster and his family. We take great pride in our charity work, especially when it comes to supporting our local community.”
CHIPS, which stands for ‘Children’s Happiness Involves People’ was founded on behalf of the Casino and gaming industry, in order to raise funds to purchase specialised powered wheelchairs for youngsters with varying disabilities.
The charity provides wheelchairs for children who would otherwise have no way of getting around on their own, funding wheelchairs that the NHS cannot provide and that the parents cannot afford to buy. To date it has raised over £1.2m and has presented over 400 wheelchairs to youngsters.
Director of CHIPS charity Linda Lindsay said: “It is so important to CHIPS that our donors see the results of their hard work and we are especially grateful to Mark and his team for their fundraising efforts. Caesars Entertainment UK has been amazing, enabling us to provide multiple high powered wheelchairs to children all over the UK.”
