Disability Racket Sports Donation |
| On the morning of Tuesday, the 19th July 2016, 10-year-old Rebecca Simpson, a student at Penwortham Girls High School, woke to find she had lost all feeling in her arms and legs. |
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Becky in her Sports Wheelchair |
| Becky, a budding gymnast who had previously won national gymnastic competitions, had suffered a bleed toward to top of her spine and there was some doubt about her being able to make a recovery. |
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Tony in Action |
| Following spinal surgery and a six-months stay in the high dependency spinal unit, at Southport Hospital, Becky was sent home and into the care of her mother Liz, who had given up work to care for her. |
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Tony's Tennis Partner Mark |
| Her treatment continued at Southport with three visits per week which resulted in some progress. Becky regained some strength in her upper body and arms, but still has no use in her legs. |
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David Rotheram, Dave Robinson, Steve Hallam and Jeff Lucas look on |
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Tony explains the advantages of the 'Special Chairs'
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| Becky is now back at school, which she attends in her electric wheelchair. |
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Mark with Becky in the background |
| To improve chances of a full recovery and hopefully at least increase her chances of regaining the use of her lower limbs, it was decided that partaking in wheelchair tennis, might assist in building body strength and rebuilding her confidence. |
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Becky & Sister Megan |
| Tony Knappett, who has himself being without the use of his legs for 21 years and is a GB Paralympic Tennis Player and a Tennis Coach has taken Becky under his wing. In the twelve months since she started her training Becky has shown a steady progress and her confidence is growing. |
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Becky returns a serve
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| Liz points out, that in circumstances such as Becky’s, the normal social interaction with others becomes restricted, not intentionally, just as a matter of fact. When Becky attends Tony’s sessions at South Ribble Tennis Club, she is increasing her circle of friends, this interaction is every bit as important as the exercise she has during the sessions. |
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Tony sends one over to Becky |
| Becky’s plight cam to the attention of the two Mark Lodges meeting at Leyland, between them Aeon and Leyland Mark Lodges donated a total of £1750 towards the cost of the sports mobility wheelchair. The West Lancs Mark Charity matched the funding making a Total of £3500. |
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Time for a relaxing Chat! |
| The money has funded the specialist chair that Becky is using in the photographs in this article, some residue of the money will be put towards Becky’s ongoing coaching and therapy at the Centre. |
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Jeff Lucas inspects the mark plaque on Beck's chair
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| On Tuesday evening the 5th June 2018, The Provincial Grand Master, Keith Beardmore, accompanied by members of both Aeon and Leyland Mark Lodges, attended South Ribble Tennis Club and formally presented the chair to Becky. |
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The PGM explains how the monies are raised and distributed |
| Whilst they were there, they were given a demonstration on the benefits of the special chairs, which afford the user protection from tipping and overturning. To use an ordinary chair would be very dangerous. |
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Time for a Group Shot |
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Further information about the facilities offered by 'Disability Racket Sports' can be seen on thier websiteplease click on the link below. |
| Link to Disability Racket Sports Website |
Lancashire Disability Rackets : 07803 747 900 |
| Facts provided by Stuart Cowburn, Words and Pictures by Mike Beesley |
