Fit for fundraiser
STRONG support from the wider Yamba community has enabled a five-year-old boy with cerebral palsy to gain his independence.
Last August a call was put out to people wanting to get fit and help Bailey Jensen get a special wheelchair to start school in 2012.
The fitness fundraiser was the brainchild of Yamba personal trainer Dane Mitchell who offered an eight-week fitness routine with all money being donated to Bailey's wheelchair.
Mr Mitchell said 75 people signed on to help Bailey, $6937 was raised and the group collectively lost more than 200kg for its effort.
"It's very special to see young Bailey going to school in his new chair," he said.
"It was a community effort and everyone should be so proud."
Bailey's mum, Trish Verran, said the money raised was vital to buy the $7000 piece of equipment.
"This wheelchair has saved my back," she said. "Going to the shop is so much easier because I don't have to pick him up and put him in a trolley.
"It makes my world so much easier because Bailey is very independent and he can do what he wants to do and have the independence of a five-year-old child that he didn't have before."
Ms Verran said she would have still been struggling to save for the wheelchair if it wasn't for the support of the community.
"I don't know where we'd be without the community's support. Bailey certainly wouldn't have the independence he has."
