How Jeff’s pub pals made his wheels a reality (From Daily Echo)

How Jeff’s pub pals made his wheels a reality

9:49am Tuesday 3rd August 2010 in Local Focus - Thornhill

GOOD CHEER: Jeff Bulpett is presented with his wheelchair by Hinkler pub regulars and the Geoff Smith Foundation. Echo picture by James Newell Order no: 10893950

A MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer has been handed a new specialist wheelchair after more than a year of fundraising and support from a whole community.

Drinkers at The Hinkler pub in Thornhill, Southampton, joined forces with charity workers from the Geoff Smith Foundation to provide the £14,400 chair for Jeff Bulpett.

As a long-term sufferer of the disease, Jeff had originally spent £6,000 on a chair but never received it after the firm he ordered it from went bust.

The money was raised through Motown nights at the pub, golf days and a donation from the Geoff Smith Foundation, which is an MS charity.

Founder Geoff Smith said: “When we agreed to take on this project we were amazed by the support from the regulars at The Hinkler. Without them we would have still been short of the target amount.”