Niamh Pettitt (8) is appealing for old mobile phones so she can raise money for an iPad via the Hearts and Minds charity. Niamh is pictured in Bury.
Mariam Ghaemi mariam.ghaemi@archant.co.uk Tuesday, November 19, 2013 12:00 PM
A mother is appealing for people to donate their old mobile phones so a charity will provide her daughter who has learning difficulties with an iPad.
Amy Boughton said her daughter Niamh Pettitt, eight, suffered from a genetic condition called Ohdo Syndrome and also autism.
As well as learning difficulties, poor muscle tone and hypermobility, she also had delayed speech and problems with her vision.
Mrs Boughton, from Moreton Hall in Bury St Edmunds, explained Niamh had poor fine motor skills which meant she could not hold a pen properly.
She said her daughter's teachers at Sebert Wood Community Primary School had told her how much the iPads there had benefited Niamh. And after hearing of a scheme through the Hearts and Minds charity, which involves collecting old mobile phones in exchange for an iPad with autism-friendly apps and features, the family decided to sign up. Mrs Boughton, 28, said they needed to collect 185 old, broken, damaged or unwanted mobile phones, adding so far they had nearly 100.
Mrs Boughton said: 'We are really desperately hoping we can get enough for Niamh, but already the school and other families are approaching me saying 'this sounds really great' and it would be lovely if we can get over that and maybe pass some on to the other families wanting to do the same thing or other charities who work for children.'
She added she also wanted to increase awareness of the scheme. Collection points for the mobile phones include Asda supermarket in Bury and the Coffee House at Moreton Hall.
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