A PARAPLEGIC grandfather has been given a wheelchair that will change his life thanks to a charity that raised thousands of pounds for him.
Steve Collins, 42, from Chelmer Village suffered bad spinal injuries when he fell down the stairs in an accident.
He said: "The fall broke the bones in my neck, so that left me paralysed from the chest down."
Since his accident five years ago, Steve, who used to be a manager for the mental health charity Rethink, has relied on his partner, Vanessa and healthcare professionals to help him cope with day-to-day life.
But with the help of the Heart of Darts charity, who raised an astonishing £17,000 for him, Steve now has a state-of-the-art wheelchair that has changed his life.
"It's brilliant. It's just having the comfort and because it can change into different positions I can even lay down in the chair," said the grandfather-of-two. "If I need to lay down I can sleep in the chair without having to be hoisted in and out of bed.
"It allows me also to raise myself up and be the same height as someone who is standing so if you're out with people who are all stood around you don't need to strain your neck looking up – and it's quicker so I can get from A to B in far less time than before. It's already made such a difference."
Steve can operate the wheelchair using a joy stick on an electronic pad that, despite not being able to feel his hand, he can move due to a splint he wears on his arm.
Vanessa Marshall, 44, went to the former Rainsford School with Steve and met him again three-and-a-half years ago when Steve's brother started seeing a friend of hers.
They have been together ever since and she is delighted with the new wheelchair.
"It's fantastic," said Vanessa. "He was up all day yesterday as an example – he just laid the chair back and didn't have to go to bed – and he can go out and about more by himself because in the other chair he was uncomfortable. He's more independent now.
"He's even going to the cinema on Saturday with a friend. He went from being a very active man who loved sports so it's still difficult for him to get to grips with.
"But this certainly helps."
Ian Waller, 70, who set up Heart of Darts 12 years ago with his wife Joan, said: "We want to help people who can't get help anywhere else. People like Steve, who desperately needed something to give him the quality of life. We were able to do that.
"We don't advertise and we don't get paid. We use our money wisely."
Heart of Darts, whose ambassador is world-renowned darts player Andy Forham, raises a vast amount of money with the help of the Essex County darts players and supporters.
And Steve was presented his new wheelchair at the Chelmsford Social Club last Sunday where the Essex County darts team were playing.
"It was brilliant," said Ian. "Steve said a few words and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.
"The look on people's faces when you can actually change their lives. It gives me something to get out of bed for in the morning."
