Scooter gives Mat freedom

Photo: BEN WATSON

ON THE MOVE: Lester Dallow and Long Bay College pupil Mathew Green who has a muscle-wasting disorder has just been given a scooter to get around the school.

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A scooter donated after a plea for help is getting Mathew Green to his classes on time.

The Long Bay College year 13 student has a muscle-wasting disorder and finds it difficult to walk and stand without assistance.

Mathew, 18, used to have to text the school’s property manager Lester Dallow to collect him on the tractor to help him get to his classes.

Otherwise it would take him half an hour to walk between classes.

Mr Dallow rang a radio station to ask people if they could help Mathew by loaning him a scooter to use until the end of the school term.

About 30 people responded from all over New Zealand offering scooters.

"There was a lady in Browns Bay who said she wouldn’t be using hers for four weeks," says Mr Dallow.

Grant Hetherington, sales manager of mobility scooter distributor Invacare, loaned Mathew one.

Mathew was so surprised when he arrived at school to see a scooter waiting for him.

His parents Tina and Simon Ware say they were considering taking Mathew out of school because it was so difficult for him.

Sometimes they had to come and drive him to his next lesson.

"He’s my son and I would do anything for him – you had to otherwise he would be stranded," says Mrs Ware.

Mathew does qualify for a funded wheelchair but at this stage he does not want one because it will limit the movement he does have.

"He’s an 18-year-old boy and just wants to be like his mates," says Mr Ware.

His parents say Mathew is a different boy now and agree the best part about it is seeing him smile again.

"It’s been a long time since we have seen that," says Mrs Ware.

Next year Mathew plans to study engineering at university.

Mr Dallow is negotiating with Invacare to see if they will be able to provide a scooter for Mathew’s time at university.

- © Fairfax NZ News