Khezra Shah gets support from Manchester Hoteliers Association

Khezra Shah has a complex condition including epilepsy and Rett Syndrome

A group of Manchester hotels has come to the aid of a 12-year-old Khezra Shah, helping to fund specialist equipment to keep her safe at night at home in Balderstone, Rochdale.

A recent Manchester Hoteliers Association ball raised £5,700 for Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children – and that, combined with a further £585 donation from Worsley Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club, means the equipment will soon be with the family.

Khezra has a complex condition including epilepsy and Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects brain development and results in physical disability. Khezra’s safety is her parents’ priority – and they were concerned that her standard cot bed wasn’t appropriate. She is outgrowing the bed and its sides aren’t high enough to prevent her from potentially falling out.

Mum Shahida Shah said: “The sides of the bed are low and she can pull herself up onto her knees which makes me scared that she could fall out and hurt herself. It’s just too dangerous for her.”

With no funding available through local statutory services, Khezra’s occupational therapist advised the family to apply to Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children for help to secure the £7,025 bed.

Newlife is the UK’s largest charity funder of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness and has provided more than £370,000 of equipment for 464 children across the Greater Manchester area.

Adrian Ellis, Manchester Hoteliers Association chairman and general manager of The Lowry Hotel, said: “The Manchester Hoteliers Association is very proud to support Newlife in all its work for disabled children in the region.

“We are particularly encouraged that the money raised from our recent hoteliers’ ball will go towards helping Khezra Shah and her family.

"Khezra’s complex condition means that she urgently needed a special bed and we are so pleased that we were able to contribute towards providing this equipment. We hope this goes a long way to providing comfort and support for Khezra and her family.

“The Manchester Hoteliers Association looks forward to continuing our support to the good causes that Newlife represents.”

Claire Kelly, Newlife Regional Fundraising and Awareness Manager, said: “Manchester Hoteliers Association members are all about providing the best hospitality and highest levels of service, which includes a good night’s sleep in comfortable beds and so it seems appropriate that their generous funding is not only going to keep a very special little girl safe at night, it’s going to give her parents the peace of mind to sleep themselves. Their support will make a huge difference to this family and I am so very grateful to The Manchester Hoteliers Association for their fabulous support and look forward to hopefully working with them in the future.”

The bed is being provided by Newlife through an equipment grant. These grants make permanent provision of a wide range of aids, including wheelchairs and walkers for mobility and specialist car seats and beds for safety.

Newlife also operates the only nationwide emergency equipment loan service in the UK, offering a rapid response – often within 72 hours – for families of life limited and terminally ill children and those sleeping in unsafe environments. In addition, play therapy pods offer loans of sensory toys for those with complex needs and comfort capsules enable families of terminally ill children to make memories together.

For more information about how Newlife supports local families visit:

www.newlifecharity.co.uk/greatermanchester.

The charity is working with a further 31 families in the area, with equipment needs totalling £27,847. If you think you can help, go to the website and donate. Alternatively, contact the Newlife County Liaison Team on 01543 431 444, email local@newlifecharity.co.uk.

Newlife guarantees that 100 per cent of monies donated or fundraised in Greater Manchester will be used to specifically help local children with disabilities and terminal illness.