Edensor Care Centre, in Clacton-on-Sea, has had a wish come true with the arrival of two specially designed beach wheelchairs which will allow their residents to enjoy time on the sand.

With the generous support of Colchester Catalyst, Pickering Electronics LTD and those who donated through Just Giving, Edensor is delighted to have been able to buy two beach wheelchairs which will make huge difference to everyone at Edensor.

The fundraising campaign for beach wheelchairs was prompted when in his final days, Simon Keyes, 34, who was at Edensor for end-of-life care, wanted to go onto the beach. Sadly, due to Simon's wheelchair not being adapted for the sand this was not possible and it was truly heart breaking for the team that they could not fulfil his last wish and they were determined to raise enough money to secure these valuable new resources.

Lindsey Milliken, Deputy Manager, Edensor Care Centre, said: ‘Edensor is very close to the beach, so it's an ideal place for those who love the seaside to visit, however many of our residents are unable to wholly enjoy their surroundings as some are permanent wheelchair users and this makes it impossible for them to go on the sand and down to the water’s edge without specially adapted chairs. I was with Simon on his last visit outside the home and not being able to take him on the sand was a feeling I never wanted to experience again.”

Generous donations from Colchester Catalyst, Pickering Electronics LTD and via a Just Giving page, have allowed Edensor to purchase two beach wheelchairs which will allow everyone at the Care Centre to use the beach.

Colchester Catalyst said "We were delighted to be able to contribute to this wonderful idea, so that everybody can now be included in the beach visits"

Pickering Electronics Limited, said “Supporting local causes is an important part of Pickering’s values, so when an employee brought the Edensor Care Centre fundraising campaign to our attention we were delighted to help. We hope the residents enjoy getting down to the beach.”

The first resident to use a new beach wheelchair was Mary Wood, who was taken to enjoy the sand and sea on 20 July. She said, “I have had the most amazing time and it brought back such happy childhood memories of visits to the beach.”

As part of Diagrama's commitment to the community, Edensor hopes to allow the local community to book one of the wheelchairs so that even more people will be able to go on the beach.