Deepings groups bring a little iJoy to Faith

Christmas came a little early for six-year- old Faith McLennan of Maxey, thanks to members of the local Rotary and Lions.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th Dec 2017, 08:00 BST
Faith McLennan on her iJoy Ride with, from left, Lions Vince and Carol Sterland, sister Tayla , mum Caroline Brewster and Rotary president Alan Kendrick.Faith McLennan on her iJoy Ride with, from left, Lions Vince and Carol Sterland, sister Tayla , mum Caroline Brewster and Rotary president Alan Kendrick.
Faith McLennan on her iJoy Ride with, from left, Lions Vince and Carol Sterland, sister Tayla , mum Caroline Brewster and Rotary president Alan Kendrick.

Faith suffers from cerebral palsy, which affects all four limbs, and her parents Caroline Brewster and Lee McLennan wanted her to have an iJoy Ride, a hi tech exercise machine designed for indoor rider training but also, most significantly from Faith’s point of view, designed to improve core balance and tone and condition leg muscles.

It is all the more important for her as, next summer, Faith is set to undergo a major operation - Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy - at Bristol Children’s Hospital to improve the muscle stiffness in her limbs, which will help make walking easier for her, with the iJoy Ride seen as an excellent way for her to prepare for the operation and beyond.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On hearing Faith’s story, the Rotary Club of the Deepings and the Deepings Lions Club pooled together to purchase an iJoy ride (cost £499) for her.

Most Popular

It has now been delivered to the family home, and mum Caroline said that Faith was so excited when it arrived.

Rotarian John Lavery, who co-ordinated the project, said: “We were only too pleased to help such a deserving cause and it was so good that both we and the Lions could work together on this project.

“We hope Faith will have many years of enjoyment from her iJoy Ride machine and we also hope it will help her achieve greater mobility to enable her to have greater freedom and independence.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Vince Sterland, treasurer of Deepings Lions, said: “These are the sort of projects we like to help out with. We were pleased to support such a worthy cause to help Faith to improve her mobility. To see the expression on Faith’s face and share her excitement when opening the box makes our fundraising all worthwhile.”

PhotoCaption: