Thrilled Ellen walking back to happiness

Date published: 25 July 2014


A DISABLED Oldham girl has been given her independence back after a local company replaced her walking frame which was stolen by callous thieves.

Ellen Godfrey (13), who has cerebral palsy, is now back on her feet after her walking frame she relies on to stand upright was replaced by mobility specialists Millercare.

Shocked

The cold-hearted theft happened when Ellen’s mum Ann-Marie Godfrey put the frame outside their home on Long Lane, Chadderton, ready for Ellen to go to school.

However, the pair were left shocked and disgusted to find that just 45 minutes later, it was gone. Without the frame, Ellen is confined to a wheelchair.

Police suspected at the time that a scrap-metal company may have taken the frame but no-one has been arrested.

When the Chronicle broke the story on July 9, Millercare offered to make Ellen a brand-new custom-built frame after an overwhelming response from readers.

Mrs Godfrey, Ellen’s mother, said: “It was just fantastic to see the support we were given from the Oldham community. They all clearly want to give something back and that is really nice to see.

“The new frame is fantastic, we are really grateful, she has got her independence back. It is really nice as well that it was an Oldham company who did this for Ellen.

“She’s really made up with the new frame, it has made her so happy.”

Tara Butterworth, Millercare’s Oldham branch manager, said: “It was an awful crime — but Ellen was so happy when we gave her the new frame, it was really nice to see.

“We knew with the summer holidays coming up that Ellen would have missed out on certain activities if she was in her wheelchair so we knew we had to act quickly.”