Six-year-old Harrison Lee Carthew has gained a new sense of confidence through Ability WA’s expanded equipment loan library, which was funded through the help of Channel 7 Telethon.
Diagnosed with Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy and developmental delays at the age of 15 months, Harrison couldn’t walk until he was four.
A Channel 7 Telethon grant given to Ability WA to expand its early childhood intervention free equipment loan library meant Harrison could get quick access to the equipment he needs to walk.
The grant comes as the countdown to the 56th annual Channel 7 Telethon is on, with just 100 days to go until West Australians can once again help children in need.
The 2023 Telethon weekend will be back at the RAC Arena on October 21 and 22 with the extravaganza to be broadcast live on Channel 7 and 7plus.
The Telethon Family Festival will also take over Wellington Street and Yagan Square on Sunday, October 22.
Harrison’s mother Pay Pay Lee said being able to borrow items such as a wheelchair, walker and crutches allowed him to move and play with his friends and siblings.
“He couldn’t participate like a normal child when he first started walking around three and four years old,” she said.
“This equipment has given him a lot of independence and confidence in being his own little person.
“His wheelchair and walker means he feels good as a growing child to be able to use his own legs.”
Children sometimes have to wait up to 18 months for specialised equipment to be funded and purchased. By this time, they have often outgrown what has been ordered, delaying their progress and putting further stress on families.
Access to a well-stocked library of equipment allows children to continue developing at their own pace and has life-changing positive impacts on their health, wellbeing, development and participation in family and community life.
“It was a real relief, just the kindness to be able to access this equipment was a lot of weight off my shoulders,” Ms Lee said.
“Financially knowing how much these things cost I was very humbled that we were able to access it because there’s a lot of people that can’t.”
The equipment library is the only free-of-charge therapeutic equipment loan library of this size in WA for children with complex disabilities.
The initiative was made possible by Channel 7 Telethon funding and will continue to be supported, making early childhood intervention a priority.
“I’m excited Ability WA received a Telethon grant because there is such a huge market in terms of the amount of parent’s waiting for equipment through NDIS,” Ms Lee said.
“It gives me great joy that kids won’t have to wait so long.”
Last year, Channel 7 Telethon raised a record $71.3 million thanks to the generosity of West Australians, which helped 107 beneficiaries continue to improve the health and wellbeing of WA children.
Funds raised for Channel 7 Telethon in 2023 will ensure more than 100 charity beneficiaries can continue to provide better access and quality of care as WA comes together to help build a better and brighter future for our children.
Channel 7 Telethon funding supports medical research into childhood diseases, state-of-the-art equipment, critical services for children with disabilities and life-changing opportunities for disadvantaged children.