CHIPS gives gift of freedom to two youngsters, but many more need help

Clarion Gaming gave two more youngsters and their families the gift of greater freedom, supporting gaming industry charity CHIPS to purchase bespoke wheelchairs to suit their individual needs.

Daisie Pickering, 6, and Lucas Shiells, 7, were presented with the new chairs at ICE London today. CHIPs has raised more than £3 million so far to purchase more than 670 chairs which are specifically designed to meet the needs of each child.

Linda Lindsay, co-founder of CHIPS, attended the presentation. She was proud to have helped more than 670 youngsters experience greater freedom through improved mobility but said there were still many more youngsters that needed the charity’s help.

She added that Covid-related shortages, cost increases and other factors had led to further delays for youngsters in need: “For all the children that we have given chairs to, there is still the same number that need our help and are waiting. We won’t promise a chair to a child until the money is in the bank.”

Lucas, 7, was presented with a lightweight manual wheelchair to replace his current NHS model, which was too heavy and unsuitable for his needs. Lucas’ mum Frauke Shiells said: “The new chair is a lot easier to push and it will allow us to do a lot more as a family.”

Daisie, 6, was busy practising maneouvres and turns in her new powered chair. Her

mum, Emma, said: “The new powered chair will help her at school, playing with her friends and getting outdoors. It’s going to give her a lot more independence.”

Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter said: “CHIPS is a fantastic charity that’s part of the fabric of the land-based gambling industry. Neither Linda or her fellow trustees claim a penny in expenses which means that 100% of the funds raised go towards the purchase of wheelchairs.”

“The fact that CHIPS has presented in the region of 650 chairs and improved the lives of so many youngsters is a phenomenal achievement. As a team, we are proud to contribute to what is a wonderful success story.”

For more on CHIPS visit www.chipscharity.org