Firm steps in to grant wash wish

From the archive, first published Thursday 7th Dec 2006.

When former window salesman Patrick Walsh was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in January, the news devastated him and his wife of 47 years, Doris.

To make matters worse it become clear their Baildon bungalow was not equipped to cope with the the wheelchair Mr Walsh needed.

The grandfather, 77 on Wednesday, was left unable to access facilities to wash himself properly.

When the couple, of Rowantree Avenue, applied for a grant from Bradford Council to alter the room to enable wheelchair access, they were told that due to a backlog of applications they faced a two-year wait.

With half of all people with motor neurone disease (MND) dying within 18 months of diagnosis, this second bombshell infuriated the couple.

To highlight their case, Mr and Mrs Walsh spoke to Telegraph & Argus in August. The story was picked up by former colleagues of Mr Walsh at Safe Style UK in Bradford. The window company contacted the T&A, offering to arrange and fund the alterations.

The work, which cost about £10,000, has now been finished and the couple say they are overwhelmed.

Former colleagues at Safe Style UK, Dave Willis and Davon Campbell, visited the Walsh's home yesterday to see how their kindness had transformed Mr Walsh's life.

"Patrick was in hospital for six weeks," said Mrs Walsh.

"The work was finished on the Tuesday and he came home on Wednesday and he just broke down and cried when he saw the bathroom.

"He could not believe it. We now have two carers who come in four times a day who take care of him.

"It has just transformed our life - I can't thank everyone enough."

Laura Middlemas, marketing assistant at Safe Style, made the arrangements, sourcing the fittings and finding Daren McKnight, of DM Electrics and Plumbing, to fit it.

Ihsan Alnasrawi, of Safe Style's marketing department said: "Mr Walsh was a valued member of the company and we wanted to help in any way we could.

"The fitter went all out to get here and fit it, he also realised the importance of getting it done quickly.

"In a way Patrick has been one of the lucky ones, there must be a lot of people out their facing similar problems who are not fortunate to have this kind of help."

Mrs Walsh said she had been amazed at the kindness of people, including family friend Brian Swallow, of Cottingley, who redecorated after the work was finished.

"You never think it is going to be you," she said. "Patrick said to me he never realised when he was well how privileged he was to be able to walk, feed himself and use the bathroom. You just take it for granted."

e-mail: claire.lomax@bradford.newsquest.co.uk