Car dealership backs fundraising appeal for Cumbrian girl

By Paul Crute

Last updated at 13:28, Friday, 15 February 2013

A Cockermouth car dealership is supporting a fund-raising appeal to help a girl from the town to achieve her dream of riding a bike.

Megan White is shown the car by Lloyd’s staff Tim Willis and David Byrne. Also pictured are Megan's cousin Callum Iredale, her uncle Jordan Bradshaw, friend Tom Stephenson and sister Leah White

Lloyd Motors has branded one of its vehicles with a photograph of 12-year-old Megan White, who has cerebral palsy and spastic diplegia.

The company’s livery also includes a fund-raising website address to promote the appeal. And all its 42 employees will donate an hour of their wages to the cause after an idea from technician Andrew McKenzie.

Megan, a pupil at Cockermouth School, uses a walking frame, stick or wheelchair to get around but would love to ride a bicycle like her twin sister Leah and sister Kara Beattie, five.

Mum Kerrie Iredale launched Megan’s Dream in November to raise £40,000 to get Megan the best possible treatment and aftercare. Lloyd Motors is also planning a year of fund-raising to help the family achieve their goal.

David Byrne, dealer principal at Lloyd Cockermouth, said: “All Megan wants to do is ride a bike.

“This is an initiative that every member of staff is keen to get involved in and we hope we can really make a difference.”

The branded BMW will be used as a courtesy car for Lloyd customers and is expected to cover about 5,000 miles in four months. So far £13,000 has been raised for Megan and more plans are in the pipeline. Megan’s father Neil White will take part in a parachute jump on March 9, while Kerrie will take part in the Cumbrian Run with friends in October.

The organisers of cycle challenge Clive’s Cumbrian Way plan to donate all the cash raised from this year’s event, expected to be around £10,000. Kerrie, 35, of Bellbrigg Lonning, said: “It is fantastic what Lloyd’s have done. We are grateful for all their help.”

First published at 13:25, Friday, 15 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk