We’ve joined forces with the charity Whizz Kidz to offer lifechanging grants to under-18s living with a muscle wasting or weakening condition. The collaboration has awarded nearly £50,000 in grants to enable eight children to access a new wheelchair.
Living with a progressive muscle wasting and weakening condition means you may need access to specialist equipment throughout your life. This can come at a substantial financial cost. Over 75,000 young people in the UK need to use a wheelchair. Unfortunately, often they can’t access the equipment that fully meets their needs through local services, due to long wait times, costing issues and some children not meeting the qualifying criteria. The grants can therefore be lifechanging.
Following years of being misdiagnosed Grace Mohan, 14, received a congenital myopathy diagnosis in 2023. Grace struggles to walk long distances and the condition causes extreme exhaustion. Currently she has a manual wheelchair provided by the NHS but with the progression of her condition she finds it difficult to manoeuvre, as she can’t self-propel.
Grace said: “I really struggle to walk long distances, so I’ll often have to miss out on doing things with my friends because my condition causes me too much pain.
“I’m so thankful that I’m going to be getting a new wheelchair. I’ve gone for one called Quickie in a purple colour to reflect my personality.”
Grace’s mum, Eloise, added: “I don’t think she quite knew what to expect until we actually went to the wheelchair fitting day. The smile on Grace’s face said it all. If it wasn’t for her ears her smile would have gone all the way around. It was joyous to watch her going up and down the pavements – she had so much freedom. We can’t wait for her to receive her new wheelchair and can’t thank Muscular Dystrophy UK and Whizz Kidz enough.”
“On average powered wheelchairs can cost anything between £5,000 – £35,000. The partnership with Whizz Kidz allows these children, living with a muscle wasting and weakening condition, to access essential wheelchairs. Giving them freedom – whilst avoiding disappointingly long-wait periods. We’re looking forward to exploring how we can further our relationship with Whizz Kidz to help others in need in the future.”
“At Whizz Kidz, we believe every young wheelchair user deserves the right equipment to live life to the fullest. By joining forces with Muscular Dystrophy UK, we are breaking down barriers and providing vital mobility solutions that will have a truly lifechanging impact. These grants mean greater independence, confidence, and opportunity for children who need it most, and we are proud to be part of this transformative collaboration.”
Thanks to funding from the Joseph Patrick Trust (JPT), which provides grants towards the costs of essential powered mobility equipment for children and adults with muscular dystrophy or a related neuromuscular condition, we were able to fund the new equipment for children across the UK.
Living with a progressive muscle wasting and weakening condition means you may need access to specialist equipment throughout your life. This can come at a substantial financial cost. However there is financial support available to help with these costs.
Our helpline provides free information and emotional support to anyone living with a muscle wasting or weakening condition as well family members, carers and friends.
Practical and financial support available to help you with the costs of living with a muscle wasting or weakening condition.
