Community raises £16k for man's standing wheelchair

Mick Lloyd

A father of two who lives with multiple sclerosis has thanked family, friends and strangers who raised more than £16,000 to buy him a new standing wheelchair.

Mick Lloyd from Rugeley, Staffordshire, has used a standing chair to get around for more than four years, after his condition deteriorated.

A fundraising appeal was launched in February to raise £16,000 for a new one after his existing chair was damaged during a fall. The equipment is not available from the NHS.

It raised £5,000 in the first week alone and Mr Lloyd and his wife Tracey said they had been "overwhelmed" by the community's response.

Mr Lloyd has thanked his community for helping him

The appeal went on to raise £11,000 within a month and money for the chair was also raised through fundraising events during May and June.

"It's hard to take in," said Mr Lloyd.

"When people start showing you love, you're thinking 'what a world we live in, what great friends we've got'."

Mrs Lloyd added: "We've just been so overwhelmed with people's generosity."

Phil Deakin raised more than £1,600 for the appeal through a sponsored bike ride

Mr Lloyd's friend Phil Deakin, a keen cyclist, raised an additional £1,600 by riding about 145 miles (233 km) a day for seven days.

Each day he cycled from his home in Rugeley to the Peak District and back.

"When I get back home every day, Mick has always got a big smile on his face, so I know what it means to him," he said.

"In Rugeley, we all know each other. We try and help our community."

Mr Deakin's efforts will pay to insure the standing wheelchair for four years, and extend its warranty.

The standing chair helps with Mick's physical and mental health

Mrs Lloyd added her husband "turns a lot of heads" when he uses the chair in public.

Being able to stand helps with Mr Lloyd's digestion and breathing, and reduces sores.

But he added the biggest benefit was social. He was able to stand at the bar with his son Alex and buy him a pint on his 18th birthday.

Mr Lloyd said: "It's fantastic to see the support of people who want to see me standing."