Lightweight wheelchair maker Convaid Inc. (Torrance, Calif.; convaid.com) recently partnered with non-profit Fighting for Families (Chicago; fighting-for-families.org) to surprise four-year-old Lydia Hayden, who was born with cerebral palsy, by giving her a new Convaid EZ-Rider wheelchair.
Fighting for Families raises money to provide support and additional services to families with children who have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Ancilliary services include rehabilitation therapy, equipment and support services. The non-profit group planned a special surprise celebration for Hayden and her mother, Teresa, which included an overnight stay at the Westin Chicago North Shore. In addition to the chair, Lydia was given sensory toys, a bed rail to protect her from falling out of bed, an iPad to help with speech development and motor skills.
Darren Nordquist, business development representative with Convaid, worked with Lydia to ensure proper wheelchair fit and that the chair met her exact specifications for safety, comfort and positioning. Nordquist also provided Teresa with a brief overview of the product so she would feel comfortable with the features, including the wheelchair’s ability to fold up compactly, allowing for easy transport.
“We feel fortunate to have been part of such a wonderful event for a very deserving family,” said Convaid CEO Chris Braun. “We value our partnerships with organizations such as Fighting for Families, as it allows us to broaden our reach and support more families in need of assisted mobility products.”
“While the physical items that Lydia and Teresa received are certainly important, they were also given hope, love and support,” said Bradley Egel, event coordinator with Fighting for Families. “I believe we succeeded in meeting both their physical and emotional needs. Thank you to Convaid for being part of this incredible surprise, and for [the company’s] generosity.”