A Blacon youngster who suffers from a rare syndrome has been given the gift of a much-needed new wheelchair this Christmas thanks to the generosity of well-wishers and a Chester business.

Six-year-old Dylan Edge is an adventurous little boy keen to exercise his independence, but his condition – Patau Syndrome – means he relies on a wheelchair to get around.

Unfortunately, his standard issue chair from the NHS is not meeting his needs any more and its lack of child-proof brakes has placed him and his mum Claire Edge in some dangerous situations.

Adam Dandy presents Dylan's parents Claire and Stuart Edge with the cheque
Adam Dandy presents Dylan's parents Claire and Stuart Edge with the cheque

Claire and her husband Stuart were so desperate to provide him with a safer chair which will allow him more freedom, they decided to set up a crowdfunding page in order to fund one specially made for him.

Friends and strangers donated more than £1,000, but the family were still a little way off their £2,555 target.

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In stepped the team from Dandy’s Topsoil, who presented a cheque for the balance to Claire and Stuart live on air during Gavin Matthews’ show on Tuesday (December 8).

Emotional surprise

With the blindsided couple led to believe they were going on the radio to promote their appeal, the surprise cheque presentation made for emotional listening.

Dandy’s Topsoil owner Adam Dandy explained that they decided to donate the profits from their Black Friday sale last year to a local cause, after seeing television footage of shoppers fighting it out for bargains and regretting their participation in the day.

They asked their customers to nominate deserving causes and several suggested Dylan’s wheelchair fund.

Adam said he was delighted he and his team were able to help.

Life-changing

Claire, who helped found the charity SPACE, said the new wheelchair will ‘change his life’.

She explained that his current one is easily tipped and they have almost been run over crossing the road on a few occasions when Dylan has applied the brakes.

“We are completely blown away by the support we have received,” she said.

“The wheelchair will mean independence for him.

“He will be able to safely explore without having an adult around him all the time.”

Dylan will be given a loan wheelchair – complete with child-proof brakes – by Da Vinci Mobility while his custom-made chair is built.