For brave Alana Ranger a new wheelchair could give her a new lease of life.

The 12-year-old, from Felixstowe, suffers from cerebral palsy and epilepsy and has been wheelchair-bound since birth.

Her family today made a passionate plea for help as they try to raise the funds to help change her life.

While Alana’s current wheelchair is perfect for school, her mum said it causes major problems when they are out and about as a family.

Louise Ranger said problems arise when her daughter needs changing, forcing her to lie Alana on the floor to help her.

The 39-year-old said a new lightweight model, with a specially adapted fold-out part will help make life better for her daughter.

She said: “Alana is nearly 5ft and so too big to use a standard changing unit. Our only alternative is to pull out a blanket, put it on the dirty floor and lower her on to it.

“Alana has a gastrostomy (feeding) peg in her stomach which is, in effect, an open wound, and I always worry about the hygiene implications.

“Unfortunately, we have no alternative.”

Mrs Ranger said the new equipment costs nearly �3,000, prompting them to turn to the New Life Charity, who help disabled children, for help.

The family are now urging people to donate to the charity so that their beloved daughter can get the wheelchair that would make her, and her family’s lives, so much easier.

Mrs Ranger added: “When we are out, lifting Alana, who weighs six-and-a-half stone, safely in and out of her current wheelchair takes two people.

“At the moment, if I am on my own with Alana and she needs changing we have to return home immediately.

“Having a lightweight wheelchair with a fold-flat facility would make a huge difference to the lives of everyone in our family.

“It would be such a big bonus for her because we could go out and stay out for longer.

“We are not a stay-in family, we like to go out and she shouldn’t need to stay in all day because of her disability.”

If you would like to donate to the charity, you can visit www.newlifecharity.co.uk. You can either donate in Alana’s name or donate directly to the charity.

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