A TAUNTON boy has received a ‘super duper’ wheelchair to help make life easier after losing his leg due to illness.

William Wake, nine, lost his leg in March 2013 after complications due to an asthma attack and has since had surgery and received physiotherapy to help walk again using a prosthetic leg.

William’s family were struggling to move the Lyngford Primary School pupil around in his old wheelchair and decided to contact Limbcare, who specialise in support for limb-impaired people and their families, and sure enough were pointed in the direction of Mobility For You, who offer a range of mobility equipment from leading manufacturers.

Limbcare helped raise funds towards the new wheelchair, along with money from William’s family, and now he is riding in style.

Susanna Sumner, William’s mum, said: “He’s a remarkable little boy and he’s been really brave.

“His old wheelchair made life so much harder – it was too heavy and too low for us to push him around easily.

“We’d like to thank Ray and the team at Limbcare for their generosity.”

Ray Edwards, chairman of Limbcare, was on hand to offer support to William and his family; being a multiple amputee himself.

Ray said: “I’m very honoured that William will be part of the Limbcare family.

“It’s a great honour to help young people like him and give the parents a bit of breathing space.

“Life has been pretty hard for me having Hodgkin’s disease and then contracting septicaemia, which led to me losing both my legs below the knees, one arm through the elbow and the other 100mm below the elbow. 

“I set up Limbcare with my friend Barry in 2010 to help those affected like me.”

Ray was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours List in 2011 for his efforts to help other disabled people.

If you would like to read more about Ray and the Limbcare team visit www.limbcare.org