Car club joins in bid to raise £10,000 for wheelchair for schoolgirl

Last week, the Newbury Weekly News published Vicky Blackett and John Hind’s appeal to raise £10,000 for a specially-modified, electric power chair for their eight-year-old daughter, Iona Hind (pictured), which would give her greater independence and allow her to play outside with her friends.
After reading about Iona’s fund, the founder of modified car and motorcycle group West Berkshire Cruisers, Amanda Koppen, has organised a fundraising family car meeting, to include a bouncy castle and raffle, on Saturday, May 24.
She is also in the process of arranging a charity car wash for Iona’s fund, however the date and location have not yet been confirmed.
Miss Blackett said: “It’s fantastic; people really want to support Iona even though they don’t know her. It’s lovely that people actually do care.”
She added that she had received a number of other emails from people wanting to help, including one man who wanted to donate his entire £300 winnings from a recent fishing competition.
On Saturday, West Berkshire Cruisers also raised £35 for Little Stars, which supports orphaned, disabled and disadvantaged children in the UK and Egypt, in an event that attracted more than 70 modified vehicles to The Starting Gate pub, Speen.
Ms Koppen said: “I’m a little disappointed. I would’ve liked to raise more money, but it was our first fundraising attempt.
“We are going to put more work in for the next event, and we’re hoping that with the help of the public, we’ll be able to put on an even bigger event.”