European first for Annahilt teenager

An Annahilt couple say their disabled son Aaron has been given a new lease of life after he was the first recipient in Europe of a new specialist running chair.
David with his wife Sandra and AaronDavid with his wife Sandra and Aaron
David with his wife Sandra and Aaron

David and Sandra Kerr were even able to cross the finish line of the 10k Great South Run in Portsmouth recently, along with 17-year-old son Aaron, with the help of Aaron’s chair, which was sent from America.

The couple thanked family and friends for helping them purchase the chair due to their fundraising efforts. They held raffles and organised sponsored walks.

The £4,000 Hoyt chair was needed for Aaron (17) due to his complex needs and has already made a ‘remarkable difference.’

Family and friends helped raise money to purchase the chair for Aaron after his parents took up running in the last couple of years.

Before, the couple who would often train could not do anything together as a family.

But due to Aaron’s complex needs and his need for 24-hour care, one or the other had to be with him.

“This chair is like a new lease of life for all of us,” said David. “My wife and I can go out together and train while Aaron can go out and look around him and get some much needed fresh air. It even has a heated seat for Aaron to make it more comfortable for him.

“We can plan trips ahead and we were able to do the Great South Run together in Portsmouth.”

David who gave up his work as a courier, took up running a few years after his son’s kidney transplant. In 2010, David gave Aaron his kidney.

“My wife was more of a keen runner and has been running for just over two years,” said David.

“After the kidney transplant everything had to go on the back burner and so just eight months ago I decided to start running too. The problem that we had was that both of us could not run together - because one of us had to go be with Aaron and could not take part in runs together. We then went onto the internet and came across this Hoyt seat.

“As Aaron got older it was also becoming increasingly difficult to do things as a family (the couple also have a 20 year old daughter). If I was going out for a run my wife would have had to stay with David or I would have to stay as well. This chair is remarkable. By getting it has been an incredible asset to our lives.

“We would encourage anyone interested in purchasing the seat to come and talk to us,” continued David.

“The running community have been very supportive to us. We see them at weekly Park Run event at Wallace Park where we can now take Aaron.”

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