Former Royal Navy engineer from Gosport blown away by fundraiser to make garden wheelchair friendly after amputation

Shane Henry, 43, had his leg amputated above the knee on July 31 after being diagnosed with bone sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

Gosport Borough Council moved Shane and his family from his former flat into their current home in Southway. While the home has been adapted, Shane’s wheelchair cannot get into the garden.

Shane said: ‘Not only do I feel like I have had my knee taken away but, as things stand, the ability to get out in the garden with my children.’

Friends Jade and Jason Madigan have set up a JustGiving page to raise the £2,000 needed to provide ramp access to the house and replace the current unseeded soil with a patio and decking which will be much more suitable for manoeuvring his wheelchair.

After hearing about his friends’ efforts, Shane said: ‘I'm blown away – it’s absolutely amazing. My wife and I like to do things ourselves but we have now realised we can’t do it all on our own. As a dad you are supposed to get outside to be able to play games with your kids.

‘I can’t wait to get out and have a barbecue or see the kids splashing about in the paddling pool.’

Shane is most looking forward to having a game of swingball with daughter Abbie, six, and son Callum, 12.

‘I love a game of swingball. The children will absolutely love me being able to get out in the garden again,’ he said.

Friend Jason, 33, a former lance corporal in the army, said he was desperate to help his fellow comrade in arms.

Jason said: ‘When Shane was diagnosed with cancer it came as a massive shock to everyone. He was a young, fit and healthy guy. He worked hard for his kids. Cancer has changed his life forever.

‘It’s been a horrible time for the family. Sorting out his garden could change his life dramatically. He could sit in his garden and play with his kids.’

Wife and former army nurse, Jade Madigan, 37, who is a community associate practitioner, added: ‘It’s just been heartbreaking to see what’s happened to Shane. He took his daughter to the park for the first time and she got stuck on the climbing frame and was crying for her dad to help but he just couldn’t. That just broke our hearts.

‘This could absolutely change his life. It would mean he could get outside and watch his children play and be there for them. It would mean the world to him and his family.’

The couple have so far raised £360 towards their target. To support Shane’s cause go to his JustGiving page.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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