Lauren delighted with the chair

30 November 2007

A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl who won over the hearts of a local charity is now sitting pretty with her classmates at Beccles Middle School.

Lauren Seager, who has hypermobility syndrome and needs a special chair for classes, wrote to the Beccles and District Lions and managed to get a donation of £1,700 for a new chair that would allow her to sit with her classmates.

When Lauren made the move from Worlingham Primary School to Beccles Middle in September, where classes are taken in different classrooms and tables vary in size, she found that she was often forced to sit on her own at a small table that could accommodate her static, wooden chair.

Dave Baker, headteacher at the school, who had had a wet room and lift put in for Lauren, made a chair for her himself so that she could sit at higher tables.

However his efforts, though well meaning, were deemed “unsafe” by her occupational therapist.

Lauren's mother Nadine wrote a letter to the Beccles and District Lions Club asking if they could help her get a new mobile, adjustable chair so that she could sit with her friends, but to no avail.

Meanwhile Lauren's letter struck a chord - particularly as it was written by the girl herself.

Dermot Wesley-Smith, community service chairman for the Beccles and District Lions Club, said: “We are very pleased to be able to buy this special chair for a very deserving young lady who took the initiative to write to us - we were very touched by her sincerity and her will to succeed in all she does.

“We are always willing to help a person who is prepared to help herself.”

Lauren said in her letter that she felt “a bit upset and embarrassed” when classmates asked why she could not sit with them, and promised to “work really very hard” and to try her best in all she does if they could help her get the chair.

Lauren is very happy with her new chair. She said: “It was really annoying because everyone else was sitting and having a laugh, and I wanted to join in.”

Mr Baker said: “We would always encourage children to take it upon themselves to get things done and harbour independence.

“The new chair's made life so much easier - to physically carry the other chair around was a nightmare.”