An East Lancashire man who suffered a stroke has gained back some independence after a fundraising campaign allowed him to buy a powerchair.
Neills Duerden, from Burnley, had a stroke just under two years ago which caused him to fall back and bang his head, causing brain damage and meaning he could no longer walk any distance.
He also lost the use of his right arm and the stroke had huge effects on his speech and ability to read.
Since the stroke, he has undergone multiple brain operations and will continue to do so in the future.
Neills is currently living at Voyage, a residential home in Burnley for individuals with brain injuries. It was initially meant to be a 12-week stay while somewhere else that met his needs was identified, but more than 12 months later nothing suitable has yet been found.
A JustGiving page was set up to try and raise funds for Neills to get a powerchair and reached its target within two days.
Neills and his carers went to Affordable Mobility to try and find a powerchair that was suitable. One was found and was donated at a cost to ensure he could get the perfect chair for his needs and have the funds to have an additional battery fitted to the chair.
The cost of the chair came to less than what was raised, meaning Neills could use the additional funds to purchase other things that may suit his needs.
Although the new chair will not be the deciding factor in how soon Neills can move into his own property, it will allow him to hopefully find somewhere sooner rather than later.
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