A TEENAGER is urging more people to back the disability charity which gave him independence and freedom by providing him with a state-of-the-art wheelchair.

Former Olympic torchbearer Alex Jordan, of St Peter’s, Worcester, says his life has been transformed thanks to the chair provided by the Newlife Foundation and he wants more people to support the charity so others can benefit.

He celebrated his 18th birthday last month and enjoyed his first pint in his local pub using his specialist £20,000 wheelchair, funded through a Marks and Spencer grant as a result of the charity’s corporate partnership with the charity.

The charity needs to find more than £100,000 a month to providequipment such as wheelchairs, beds, walking frames, seating, safety equipment and communication aids for disabled children nationwide.

Mr Jordan has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive muscle degenerative condition resulting in loss of movement, eventually leading to paralysis.

He needed a specialist powered wheelchair – with a sit-to-stand capacity – to help him play a full part in college life. Alex is studying a Btec in Applied Science at Worcester Technical College.

Mr Jordan said: “My chair has allowed me to participate more fully in college life, as well as being able to spend time with my friends on more of an equal level.”

His mother, Caroline Jordan, said: “Alex’s chair is hugely beneficial to him, allowing him to independently control part of his physiotherapy regime so vital to a teenager with Muscular Dystrophy.

Newlife Foundation has funded over £170,000 in equipment for disabled children in Worcestershire since its equipment grant scheme was launched.

Newlife CEO Sheila Brown, OBE, said: “Because of the huge demand we are calling on ‘local heroes’ to help us raise money to fund equipment in Worcestershire.”

If you think you can help, the Newlife Community Fundraising Team can be contacted on freephone 0800 988 4640.