Staff at Yorkshire Building Society boost children’s charity with help of York actor Andrew Dunn (From York Press)

Staff at Yorkshire Building Society boost children’s charity with help of York actor Andrew Dunn

6:50pm Friday 6th February 2009 in

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PEDAL-POWERED staff at a York building society have raised hundreds of pounds to help transform the lives of disabled children.

A team from the Feasegate branch of the Yorkshire Building Society took part in a sponsored bike-a-thon – each taking it in turns on an exercise bike to keep the wheels turning for eight hours.

They were helped by York soap star, Andrew Dunn, who took the saddle for half-an-hour.

The staff raised £535 for their Rising Starz Appeal – money that was matched pound-for-pound by the Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation – bringing the total to £1,070.

This will go to the charity Whizz-Kidz, which funds vital mobility equipment for children such as George Conway, of Sheriff Hutton, near York.

George, 11, suffers from the neurological disorder Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome, which causes his muscles to waste and means he need to use a wheelchair. Last year, thanks to funding from Whizz-Kidz and the village charity, George got a new, £2,500 lightweight wheelchair.

His mum Rachel said: “He already had a wheelchair provided by the hospital, but it was very heavy and he couldn’t wheel himself around in it.

“This chair is much lighter, which means he can wheel himself around without having to rely on somebody else to push him.

“He can wheel himself round the school playground at lunchtime and he can pop round to his friend’s house by himself.

“George doesn’t let anything stand in his way. He’s just a normal kid and this wheelchair means he can keep his independence.”

George attended a training course run by Whizz-Kidz to teach him how to use his wheelchair safely and get the most out of it.

The charity also runs a children’s club, which meets regularly to give members a chance to meet other young people who use wheelchairs. Actor Andrew, of Dinnerladies and Coronation Street fame, said: “For children who are disabled, having lightweight or electronic wheelchairs gives them so much more freedom.

“I was really happy when the building society asked me to take part in the bike-a-thon – although I wish the bike had been fitted with a comfier seat because I was a bit sore the next day.”