Angela Turnbull, whose nephew, Will, lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, is celebrating her successful campaign to get an accessible swing installed in their local playground.
Will’s family have supported MDUK through their Family Fund since Will was young, and now Angela has taken to local campaigning to help him access and enjoy his local playground.
After spending the best part of the year in regular conversation with local councillors, Sunderland Council has now agreed to install a wheelchair-friendly swing and a roundabout in the park close to where Will lives. Angela managed to gain the active support of a local councillor early in the process, which really helped get the campaign underway.
Angela’s success has attracted the attention of local and national press, as they have celebrated this big win with Will's family.
Angela thinks that
It is so important that all children get to enjoy public playgrounds
and this has motivated her unwavering hard work and determination towards this cause. She says
It will make me so happy to see Will enjoying something like this in a wheelchair. It is an enormous achievement. There are plenty of other children with limited mobility who will also be able to make use of this incredible equipment and that makes me smile.
Will’s mum Caroline Calvert said:
As a parent of a child with a muscle-wasting condition, it is very sad when they cannot join in with their peers. We are so happy and grateful that this means William can feel included in his local community, playing with his friends and family.
Susanne Driffield, our Regional Development Manager-North of England & East Midlands, said
What Angela has achieved is fantastic and will make a huge difference to local families. The whole family is so passionate about everything they do, and we are grateful for their continued support of the charity.
This marks an exciting achievement in the journey toward a world in which people living with muscle-wasting conditions can thrive and live without limits. What a wonderful result! Well done, Angela!