Kindheart Lisa transforms boy’s life

Lisa Buckley pictured with Kelemete Raivuni, from Fiji, before he had his new prosthetic fitted

A KIND-HEARTED Chadderton mum-of-three who helped transform the life of a teenager from Fiji has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

Lisa Buckley (40) was spurred into action after her father, Roy Zaman, a British Army support officer based in Fiji, met 16-year-old Kelemete Raivuni who was born with part of his left leg missing.

Miss Buckley was in the final year of a prosthetics and orthotics degree at Salford University so decided to put her studies to the test.

She secured £4,000 funding from Rotary International to bring the teenager, known as Kele, to England.

With the help of her course tutor, she replaced the badly-fitting wooden prosthetic he had used since he was six years old with a custom-made and fitted new one, which should last a lifetime.

Miss Buckley, from Parkway, Chadderton, said: “I’m very surprised, I didn’t do it for any recognition.

“He needed it and I wanted to do it.”

Miss Buckley, who works for NHS Rotherham as an orthotist, making and fitting orthopaedic appliances, is still in contact with Kele who has thrived since his visit to Oldham.

She said: “The old leg was attached with parcel tape. It was too short for him and badly fitted, which caused his leg to swell.

“Within days of getting the new one, he was running, jumping and playing football, living a normal life.

“The difference is unbelievable, his mother was crying when she saw him on his return and said he was like a different person.

“Children in England are well catered for in terms of the prosthetics service, so why shouldn’t another child the opportunity to have a better life if he needs it?

“I was able to make a difference and that is reward enough for me.”