Public rally to help fund wet room for Harriet
A DAVENTRY dad’s public appeal to help fund a specialist bathroom for his disabled daughter has prompted a huge response.
Ian Margieson’s nine-year-old daughter Harriet is quadriplegic and uses a wheelchair and requires round-the-clock care.
A year ago he asked Daventry District Council about funds for a wet room in his house, in Ganton Close, for Harriet to use. However the council turned down his request as the facility was already available at Harriet’s mother’s house in Byfield where Harriet and her sister spend half their time.
Mr Margieson said: “Cummins had said they could provide some volunteers from their staff to help, but last Wednesday they got in touch to say they could no longer help because some of those workers had left the company. I appreciate the company’s had problems so I don’t blame them.
“So I ended up wondering what else I could do, and I remembered seeing people posting on Facebook about lost dogs and items for sale, and I just thought I’d post something and see if there was any response.
“I put the post online at about 4.30pm, and the response was overwhelming. I was up until gone 10pm with people messaging me with offers of support and help.
“It ended up with a meeting being called on Sunday at the United Reformed Church for people with fundraising ideas.
“Following that a working party has been set up and there’s fundraising events in the pipeline.
“Daventry Homebase have donated a bathroom suite.
“I’ve even had plumbers and builders who have come out to see the room and work out what they can do. It’s amazing really.”
Despite the donations and offers of help Mr Margieson still needs to raise around £4,000.
He said: “The thing we especially still need for the wet room, and the most expensive item, is a special fold-down table for Harriet to be washed on.
“We also might need money for the non-slip floor.
“The appeal is already working. I can’t believe so many people have come forward offering help in such a short space of time.
“The first event we’ve got planned started off as a table-top sale, but it’s got a bit bigger than that now with a magician and children’s party. That’s on February 2 from 2pm at the URC in Sheaf Street.
“We’re also organising a disco night and auction, but the date hasn’t been confirmed as yet”
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Weather for Daventry
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
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Temperature: 4 C to 9 C
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