Alfie says thank you
28th November 2017

In April, trade fabricator FRAMEXPRESS launched the Alfie’s Wheels campaign, to help Production Manager, Jim Hinds raise much needed funds for his son Alfie. By July the company had hit its target and then some! The combined effort has raised £8,648

Alfie was born with a severe heart defect which limits what he can do physically and after several major operations, at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, he still needs constant supervision and help to get around.

With Alfie beginning secondary school, it became apparent that he would need a motorised wheechair to be able to access different areas of the school. Motorised wheelchairs don’t come cheap and after putting their heads together, the team organised a number of sponsored events including raffles, coffee mornings, a sponsored frameXpress bike ride and even a pink hair dying competition, amongst other things, over the Spring and Summer months.

A ‘Just Giving’ page was launched where customers, friends and suppliers including JMS Materials, Winmac, Ingenious Locks and GT Locks, donated substantial amounts of money.

‘Alfie’s Bash’ was held on 9th June at Wellington Cricket Club, where again the whole community got behind the idea of helping to raise funds. Organised by Diana Collier, Receptionist at FrameXpress, there was a special auction which included a number of fabulous prizes including an AP McCoy Print, an MOT & Interim Service, a signed rugby ball, a Radley Handbag, signed England Rugby and Cricket shirts as well as Pizza Oven Hire. The local Telford Lodge Assembly gave generously to the cause alongside the Much Wenlock Primary School and Devil’s Ink Tattoo Parlour, which earlier this year held an open event with all proceeds from the day going to the Wheels For Alfie campaign.

After purchasing the chair and relevant accessories including a ramp, there is a considerable balance remaining, which after discussions with Alfie, will be donated to The Whizzkids charity and Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Jim Hinds said: “Alfie, Jim Nicole & Ruby would like to say a huge thank you to all at Framexpress as well as suppliers and customers, who took on the mammoth fundraising project and smashed it. For any child this can be a daunting new journey, but Alfie has been very keen and enthusiastic to begin the next stage of his education, particularly now that he can get around.”