Fundraising supremo Tom Gilzean has raised enormous sums for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, and now the charity has been able to help him.
Tom had an accident earlier this year after a fall at home. He spent five months in hospital getting over his serious injuries, but now he is ready to take to the streets again.
He uses an electric wheelchair and desperately needed a new one to ensure that he can get out to his patches in the city to shake his fundraising tin at passers by.
The Sick Kids Friends Foundation asked for help from Fast Aid Medical and Mobility who have now come forward with the gift of a new top of the range wheelchair. The Edinburgh Award winner is very pleased indeed.
Tom said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Fast Aid has given me this new mobility scooter so I can continue with my fundraising.
“My old one was very worn out and the wheels didn’t do well in the cold weather and would slide about a lot, so I’m really glad to not have that issue anymore.
“Raising money for SKFF is a very important part of my life and I am incredibly grateful to the people of Edinburgh for all the support they have given me over the years.
“I’m still recovering from my accident, but I hope to be out and about on my new scooter as soon as I can. I want to keep collecting for charity for as long as I am able.”
Mark Anderson, from Fast Aid Medical and Mobility, said: “After SKFF’s call out, we read about Tom’s plight in the local paper and jumped at the chance to help.
“We made contact and set up an assessment for Tom, and decided we would donate him a brand new chair so he could get back to his daily fundraising as soon as possible.
“We’re delighted that we have had this opportunity to help out Tom. He has done so much fantastic work for many charities, the Sick Kids Friends Foundation in particular, and is a true inspiration.
“We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him out and about in his new powerchair very soon.”
Pippa Johnston, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, told of Tom’s ceaseless commitment to the cause and how deserving he is of this much-needed assistance.
Pippa said: “Tom is an inspiring man who has dedicated so many years to giving back and we continue to be overwhelmed by the huge amount of support that he gives to patients and their families.
“We are very fortunate to have someone who so selflessly gives up his time for the good of the Edinburgh community, so when we discovered he had a plight of his own, we knew there would be others out there who are just as kind-hearted as he is and who would come forward to help him.
“We are incredibly grateful to Fast Aid Medical and Mobility for their support and their donation of Tom’s new wheelchair. He truly is one of a kind and we’re honoured to be able to give back to him in this way.”
Those wishing to donate to Tom’s cause can visit: https://www.edinburghsickkids.org/ and quote “Tom Gilzean” when donating.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
