HEADING out on a trip down to the shops, or to friends’, the park, the doctor’s and just about anywhere else will be a whole lot easier for Sandra Wicks and her daughter Kyah Lucas come February, thanks to a $20,000 donation from the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS).
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Born with the genetic disorder Cornelia de Lange syndrome, Ms Lucas was terribly underweight at birth and has experienced delayed growth in many developmental areas since. Ms Lucas has numerous medical issues, mainly centred around her gastrointestinal area.
As part of OAMS’ 10-year celebrations, the service launched a major fundraising event and now with the aid of funds raised from cake sales, barbecues and a charity golf day organised by Tony Leahey Motor Group, where $14,000 was raised, Ms Wicks has now raised the $38,000 needed to have wheelchair access added to her Volkswagen Caddy.
To transport Ms Lucas, who weighs 30 kilograms, Ms Wicks has to manually lift her in and out of the car, and then fit in her 25 kilogram wheelchair.
“I won’t have to break my back whenever we go out,” she said. “Soon I’ll be able to wheel her into the back of the Caddy it will be all one swift motion.”
Ms Wicks said that now that Kyah weighed 30 kilograms, having mechanical aids was essential.
“Thirty kilograms might not sound much, but it’s too heavy for one person and with her carers during the day, their hands are tied, they aren’t allowed to lift her,” she said.
OAMS business manager Michael Halls said that this donation was the largest that they had given to any group or individual.
“We’re really excited to be helping the family in such a beneficial way,” he said.
Ms Wicks said that nothing could have happened without the support of the Orange community.
“If it wasn’t for all the people that attended, and all the people that have bought sausages and cakes over the last three years, none of this would have happened,” she said.
