A SUPERMARKET is fundraising to send a paediatric rehabilitation coach to the US for important training. 

This summer, Lucy Church will be travelling to Kentucky to complete paediatric tuition that will teach her cutting-edge rehabilitation practices for children living with paralysis.

Lucy is a trainer at Gatwick based Neurokinex Kids, which is a centre that supports a wide variety of conditions including Spinal Cord Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida, helping its young clients regain confidence in their physical abilities.

The ten-day trip is fully funded by Co-Op Crawley, which supports Neurokinex through its Local Community Fund.

The Argus:

Within this ongoing relationship, members of the local Co-Op Crawley stores can choose to donate a percentage of their spend in store to Neurokinex. 

As a result, the centre has received over £4,000 a year from the charitable programme as well as an additional donation of £850 as an offer of support during the pandemic.

In past years, this has helped purchase a paediatric harness for the treadmill that helps support youngsters as they step to strengthen their trunk stability, regain leg function and maintain overall health. 

Funds have also gone towards purchasing new toys and games for the centre, a key part of helping to engage children with their training and rehabilitation.

Alongside the annual charitable donations, the Co-Op also supports Neurokinex Kids by offering volunteers and time whenever the centre requires.

The training will further enhance Lucy’s knowledge of cutting-edge rehabilitation practices for children living with paralysis, making them available through Neurokinex Kids in the UK.

Kate Thornton-Jones, fundraising director at Neurokinex said: “On behalf of everyone at Neurokinex Kids, I’d like to thank Co-Op and its customers for their generous support of our ground-breaking, life-changing work. 

“We are extremely grateful to be continuing our relationship with the Co-Op and our young participants have certainly benefited from the Local Community Fund through the enhanced facilities, equipment and expertise we are able to offer. 

“We have come a long way in the four years since Neurokinex Kids launched and Lucy’s upcoming trip to the US is the next step in enhancing our activity-based rehabilitation offering even more. 

“We look forward to sending more of our trainers on important, skill-enhancing trips of this kind in the future and to continuing our relationship with the Co-Op.”