Disabled Battersea man who raised funds for a new mobility chair finally gets out and about

By Connor McLaughlin

Finally out and about, the disabled Battersea man who raised funds for a new mobility chair is on his way after its delivery two weeks ago.

Matt Amos, from Deeley Road, secured the final amount needed last month and even had £130 to spare.

In April, Mr Amos’ friend Katy-Louise Hicks, setup a GoFundMe page to raise funds for a mobility wheelchair to help him be more independent and help his mental health after a hard lockdown.

The idea was sparked after Ms Hicks discovered Mr Amos had gotten tired pushing himself on a grocery trip one day and had to be pushed home by a kind stranger.

Ms Hicks said at the time: ““The stranger was happy to help, and Matt got home safely but when I found out I was horrified.

“It could have been a very different story.”

After successfully raising the required amount of £1589, Ms Hicks began the process of choosing the best chair for Mr Amos.

She said: “We wanted to get one that was going to last a long time, so a good one. That’s why we went for a mid-range one and I scoured the internet to find the best one for him.”

But after finding the chair they wanted, Ms Hicks faced many delays first with finding a company that sold the chair for the price they could afford and then faced delays with having the money released due to identity concerns.

She said: “It took a really long time, and it was stressing me out because Matt was so excited.”

But after a month of delays, Mr Amos’ chair was finally secured and was delivered two weeks ago to much excitement and relief by both friends.

The delivery wasn’t without problems with the pair realising the controls had been put on Mr Amos’ weaker side but after a quick call to the company, the driver returned and fixed the controls to the correct place.

When asked what his first trip would be, Mr Amos joked that that he was heading to the pub but said he decided to settle for a drive around the neighbourhood for some lunch instead.

Ms Hicks hopes that this new chair will bring some independence back to Mr Amos’ life and allow him to pop to the shops when needed but also be able to see friends and go on trips with his son, both of which he has missed over lockdown.

Pictured: Katie Hicks and Matt Amos. Credit Connor McLaughlin