Three chairs for Gabby's backers
Girl gets fencing chair thanks to kind-hearted businesses
A young girl has had her prayers for a new sport wheelchair answered by kind-hearted businesses around the city.
Gabriella Down from Broughton was born with deformities which meant the lower part of her leg had to be amputated.
However, she has gone on to become a promising future sports star, winning medals in the field of wheelchair fencing.
Back in October last year the Citizen told how Gabriella and her mum Joanne were desperately trying to raise 3,000 so that the 11-year-old could not only have her own wheelchair for sport, but also so she could make it to and from Oakgrove School.
Joanne said: "We would like to extend a big thanks to all the people who helped to raise money by holding events for Gabby.
"The butchers in Broughton as well as Broughton Fish and Chip Shop and Universal Hair Studio in Grange Farm all held events, and without their help we wouldn't have been able to help her."
Gabriella is extremely talented at a number of sports and in October took part in the Stoke Mandeville National Junior Games through MK Athletics Club.
On that day she stormed through to take two gold medals, a silver and a bronze in a range of events in a borrowed wheelchair.
Now her mum is hoping that her new fencing chair will allow her to progress in the sport and continue to enjoy it in as much comfort as possible.
Joanne, who is studying mental health nursing at university, added: "The money raised by the three businesses went towards the purchase of the chair.
"The rest, on Gabriella's advice was donated to charity WheelPower, who her stepdad will be running the London Marathon for this year."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Milton Keynes
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
