The Dudley News has teamed up with the Dudley Group NHS Charity for 'The Big Push' - a campaign to raise £30,000 to buy 50 new wheelchairs for Russells Hall Hospital.

Wheelchair Grand Slam winner Jordanne Whiley, who is set to compete at Wimbledon next week, has given the campaign her full support. The Paralympian, who hails from Halesowen, said:

“I’m really happy to be backing The Big Push campaign, which is going to help so many people across the borough.

"Hospitals, such as Russells Hall, are always in need of good quality wheelchairs, especially as they tend to get old and tired quite quickly because they are used so much.

“When you’re in hospital it’s vitally important to have a nice, clean chair, so I think it’s a really worthwhile cause to be supporting.”

The demand for wheelchairs is on the rise as they are used by hundreds of patients every day – from those with mobility problems to people being transferred to and from wards for x-rays and scans. 

Black Country businessman Geoff Hill has already got the campaign off to a flying start by handing over a cheque for £500. Mr Hill, who opened his electrical firm in Amblecote High Street more than 50 years ago, said he was only too happy to donate to such an “excellent cause”. He added:

“I am only too aware, as my health doesn’t allow me to walk far now, that wheelchairs are an important item needed for Russells Hall Hospital. It is such a large hospital now and the distances are great for people that aren’t well.

“Good quality wheelchairs are a must to enable the transfer of patients between wards and to give them something more comfy to sit on whilst waiting for treatments.”

Karen Phillips, fundraising manager at Dudley Group NHS Charity, said the campaign was vital to help improve patient experience. She said:

“We are so grateful to those who have already donated or said they will sponsor a wheelchair. We look forward to what will hopefully be a very successful campaign which will allow us to increase the number of wheelchairs available to patients who are in pain or have difficulty walking.”

Every donation or fundraising event, large or small, will take us the team one step closer to the £30,000 which will fund the new wheelchairs, a a cost of £600 each.

To get involved, you can call reporter Kelly Harris on 01384 358283 or email kelly.harris@dudleynews.co.uk. Alternatively, if you want to make a donation in person you can call into the papers offices at St John’s House, Stourbridge, and give cash or cheques - cheques need to be made payable to Dudley Group NHS Charity/Wheelchairs.

Alternatively, visit www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/dghc/wheelchairs to make a donation online.