Comedy night is to raise money for a wheelchair (From Ledbury Reporter)

Comedy night is to raise money for a wheelchair

8:00am Sunday 3rd February 2013 in News By Robert Hale

A MALVERN social club is hosting a special fund-raising evening to buy an electric wheelchair for the son of one of its most loyal and faithful members.

The wheelchair is for Anthony Ford who regularly attends the club with his mother Barbara.

Mr Ford, aged 52, has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair.

He has an electric wheelchair at the centre he attends, Malvern SEC in Geraldine Road, but it is specially adapted for the centre and cannot be used at his home.

Mrs Ford, aged 81, of Orford Way, Malvern, who has attended the club since the 1960s, said: “It would be really useful for him to have an electric wheelchair because he’d be able to get around the house a lot easier than he does now.”

Bill Stowe of the club said: “Barbara goes back a long, long way with the club.

“Anthony comes to the club every Tuesday for the bingo and every Saturday for the entertainment, and both of them are really valued members.

“Although he can’t speak, Anthony is really enthusiastic and full of fun and always lets you know what he’s thinking.

“When we heard about the wheelchair, we decided straight away to do a charity night.

“We are doing a raffle leading up to the event. The entrance fee for that night, £1, will go into the fund, and I have persuaded the act to donate part of their appearance fee.”

The wheelchair is expected to cost between £1,000 and £1,500.

The event, at the Newtown Club, Newtown Road, on Saturday, February 9, features cabaret act the Two Tommies, who pay tribute to two showbiz legends, comedian Tommy Cooper and singer Tom Jones.

Any surplus raised will go towards future charity projects at the club.