Maggie Pickering, with daughter Rachel, in her new wheelchair

Life has taken on a whole new dimension for Maggie Pickering, the York woman struggling to cope with debilitating multiple sclerosis.

Thanks to Evening Press readers, family, friends and colleagues, Maggie, 39, has received a £2,500 electric wheelchair to allow her to escape the monotony of life indoors.

She was full of praise today for everyone who helped her dream come true.

"I'm truly amazed at the kindness of people. I'm totally overwhelmed," she said.

"They've given me a new lease of life. I just can't thank people enough."

Since being struck down two years ago by MS, Maggie, of Ebor Street, York, has lost the strength in her limbs and was finding it difficult to get around in her manual wheelchair.

After she and her daughter, Rachel, 22, appeared in the Evening Press, readers flooded the newsroom with offers of cash and equipment.

Rachel, who also raised hundreds of pounds for her mum with the help of colleagues at CGU Life, said: "I was so pleased with the response from everyone.

"We did a collection at CGU Life and got loads of donations. A friend of mine, Stuart Sellars, organised a sponsored swim which members of the Clarence Street Working Men's Club took part in and raised about £750."

Maggie's sister, Celia Quarton, raised cash at Hartrigg Oaks, where she works, and the Exhibition Hotel in Bootham, where Maggie used to work, donated £1,000.

Other cash came from individuals like Lou Naylor, of Escrick, who once shared an ambulance with Maggie, and Geoffrey Birkley, of Rawcliffe, who lost his wife to motorneurone disease.

If you know of anyone else whose life could be improved with a helping hand from the Evening Press and the public call Rebecca Gilbert on 01904 653051 extension 312.

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