Sudbury-based runner Daniel Salter and his local employer TGA Mobility, have donated a new StrongBack wheelchair to Colchester’s J’s Hospice for enhanced care of disabled locals this Christmas and beyond.

When Daniel Salter, 30 from Foxearth signed up for The J’s Hospice Chelmsford Marathon in October, he decided that he wanted to do something special for the charity. The J’s Hospice improves the lives of young adults with life-limiting conditions and their families across Essex.  Daniel is a Mobility Consultant for TGA, the UK-leading mobility scooter and product specialist, and so, instead of collecting sponsorship, he asked his employer to donate a new StrongBack wheelchair to the charity.

TGA’s lightweight and ergonomic StrongBack is a pioneering new folding wheelchair design with a contoured backrest for better lumbar support and greater comfort. It helps carers push their clients more easily and without the worry of back strain when lifting it into a car boot so Daniel felt it would be the ideal wheelchair to help the charity to care for its young adult patients. He explained: “Even though the StrongBack was only launched this year it has been hugely popular across the UK as it sets new standards in postural support and healthier sitting.”

TGA kindly agreed with one condition: Daniel had to complete the marathon within 4½ hours. As this was Daniel’s first ever marathon, this was going to be a challenge but, despite stopping during the race to help a young female entrant who was ill, he completed the marathon in an impressive 4 hours 12 minutes.

Daniel recently visited The J’s Hospice office in Great Baddow to present the wheelchair. He met the charity’s CEO Bev Barclay MBE along with some of the charity’s nurses and healthcare assistants plus a patient, Alice Leigh. He said: “I was so proud to hand over the StrongBack wheelchair to the team at The J’s Hospice as they are all fantastic and do an amazing job. They were really appreciative and I was lucky enough to meet Alice, one of the young adults in their care. She tried the StrongBack for the first time and gave us a big smile and agreed that it was really comfortable. I will continue to support The J’s and I’m looking forward to cycling for the charity on the Pedal for The J’s cycle ride next year.”

The J’s Hospice provides enhanced care including tailored nursing, respite, advice and emotional support as well as end of life care and bereavement support. The charity currently supports just under 100 patients across Essex. Bev Barclay is delighted with the wheelchair. “Thank you to Daniel and the management team at TGA Mobility for this generous donation. The StrongBack is lightweight and easy to move around which is so useful for our healthcare team, our patients and their families. Our patients have a wide range of life-limiting conditions that can severely affect their mobility so this is a fantastic early Christmas present and we promise to put it to good use.”