Appeal to get Darren mobile

IN it together . . . Darren and (back, from left) step daughter Kirsty, granddaughter Niamh, William (grandson) and wife Catherine

AN APPEAL has been launched to help a hockey-loving grandad get the wheelchair he deserves.

Darren Freeman, a former painter and decorator from Shaw, has limb girdle muscular dystrophy, which causes weakness and wasting of muscles in the arms and legs.

Darren was diagnosed in 2003 after he kept falling over inexplicably. When he fell on to the tram tracks at Manchester Victoria train station, his wife told him to go to the doctors who then did the relevant tests on him.

As a resul, Darren's mobility is limited and he needs a wheelchair to get around. The chair he needs has to support his hips, legs and feet in the correct position, as well as providing support to his back. It needs to be made especially for him and for comfort to avoid sores.

Gutted

His family bought his current chair without any help or advice for what Darren would need.

Darren (51) said: "It's gradually getting worse. I used to be a painter and decorator but as soon as I found out, the doctors said you can't do that again, because you'll be going up ladders and it's not safe.

"I was gutted. It was like a numb feeling."

Each year, Darren goes to Coventry for the hockey play-offs to cheer on the Manchester Phoenix ice hockey team.

The Old Windmill pub hosts the team's supporters and usually raises money for the Phoenix Foundation.

But this year they decided to support a fundraising page set up by Darren's stepdaughter, Kirsty Harper, to help get a new wheelchair ­- they raised £600 towards the £5,000.

"I felt really humbled when they did that," said Darren. "The landlord and landlady at the Old Windmill are good friends. It was a complete surprise."

Darren is cared for by his wife Catherine (61) who used to work for Oldham Council but had to stop to look after her husband.

She said: "I help him get dressed, to stand up, to get from the bed to the wheelchair. I help him with everything he can't do. He's restricted in what he can do.

"His wheelchair was never right from day one. We didn't know that at the time. Nobody told us what type of chair he needs.

"We thought what the pub did was a wonderful idea. We were overwhelmed. It was marvellous."

Kirsty added: "He desperately needs the wheelchair. We want him to have quality of life again. He's very silly, very lovely and caring. He's everything you could want in a dad or friend. My kids absolutely worship him."

Visit crowdfunder.co.uk/md-super-dad to donate.