Essex Chronicle readers have made Chelmsford teenager Stuart Rayner's dream of having an electric wheelchair come true.

Thirteen-year-old Stuart has been presented with a new chair, which will mean that he can live his last years to the full.

"I am so pleased," he said. "I could not believe it was for me at first. This means I can have more independence.

Stuart Rayner with his grandparents, Norman and Sandra George, and Lilli Bartella, granddaughter of Robert

"I'm good at driving games, so I should be okay with this. I want to thank everyone who helped."

Last week, the Essex Chronicle told how Stuart, who has a complex heart disease, has less than four years to live - possibly as little as a year.

He desperately wanted to live those last few years to the full, but that depended on an electric wheelchair. There was an overwhelming amount of donations from all over Essex.

Stuart's lives with his grandparents, Sandra George, 55, and her husband, Norman, 67, in West Avenue

"This just means so much to Stuart and to us," said Sandra. "It's unbelievable.

Norman said: "It has touched us so much how much everyone has wanted to help. Stuart's such a brave boy, never complaining, and this will mean the world to him. We want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts."

More than £500 was collected in a matter of days, with other organisations still raising funds on Stuart's behalf.

Then, when Essex businessman Robert Bartella, who lives abroad, heard Stuart's story, he offered to pay the outstanding amount for the wheelchair, which cost nearly £2,000

His partner, Jackie Egan, said: "Robert was really touched by Stuart's story. He is just delighted that he could help."

Geoffrey Upson, owner of Upson Mobility Vehicles Upson, where the chair was bought, said that he would also be making a contribution towards the cost.

Published Friday, June 27, 2003

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